Invisible Sun

I don't want to spend the rest of my life
Looking at the barrel of an Armalite
I don't want to spend the rest of my days
Keeping out of trouble like the soldiers say
I don't want to spend my time in hell
Looking at the walls of a prison cell
I don't ever want to play the part
Of a statistic on a government chart

Batou x (It's a surprise); Stand Alone Complex

"Are you sure you want to do this?"
"Yeah."
"... Are you su-"
"If you had the chance, you'd do it too. Now stop asking the same question and get on with it."

While he loved the damned dog, there were times where he really wished with all his heart Gabriel would just accept dry dog food and be done with it. Though, chances were even if God would be so kind as to broaden the Basset Hound's tastes, Batou would've stuck with the expensive brand of choice. She was a special dog that required a special brand for optimal health.
Yeah... Yeah that was it...
Batou kept convincing himself that was why despite how hard the truth nagged him in the back of his mind. Five years passing, he really missed the Tachikomas. It was the reason he bought a dog in the first place, to take care of something that had needs and expectations.
A long time ago he even gave his Tachikoma a name.
It was almost cheesy that he should denote that same name to the Basset Hound waiting hungrily at his apartment. Boots thumped as he turned the corner with this musing and trekked into the store.

"Wait... Before it all goes. I've a question."
"... Yeah?"
"I know you aren't Japanese. If you are, you're a pretty lousy one. A bit too outspoken and kind of brash."
"Heh. Yeah. You caught me red-handed."
"So... Out of dumb curiousity, what is your nationality?"
"Say my name outloud and this time don't mispronounce it like you always do."
"... Ah."

There was a smile of mirth as he picked up a good five or so boxes of the dog food brand in question. Well stocked and prepared, so they say. Gabriel really was a hassle. Togusa admired the dog and was welcome to take care of the thing while Batou was on a sick leave, and most of the Section 9 members teased the older man's affection for the animal. Motoko especially enjoyed grilling him from time to time, though did admit on one rare occassion that Gabriel was indeed 'rather cute'.
After that, Batou couldn't stop stupidly grinning for days.
"Hey there!" A warm, gruff voice hummed near the cashier. Batou turned a head thoughtfully, regarding an older gentleman with his head stuck in a computer terminal, waving thoughtfully while peering out just slightly.
"Hey... Can you hand me that wire there...? Can't seem to reach it."

"It's still hard to believe you're in love, old man."
"Yeah. She's... amazing."
"I believe you."
"I don't want her to get hurt. I'm not willing to risk my family's life for this line of work. We've gotten into too many riffs, too many close calls to death. I can't risk it. Not now.."
"So... She really is pregnant."
"... Yeah."
"... Did you find out the gender of your baby?"
"Yeah. It's going to be a boy."
"Really? Did you decide on any names?
"As a matter of fact, I did. Unfortunately, it seems I have a tendency to mispronounce it."

Batou raised a single brow ridge as he collected the wire by his feet, extending it to the man hiding inside a terminal. He could see a brown bush of hair, though any other features remained undertermined and to the imagination.
The man in question only peered out, taking notice of the several boxes delicately balanced in Batou's arms.
"You know. Your dog could get sick on that stuff..." He gruffed, tinkering away at that terminal. "You should give it dry food. It's good for nutritional balance."
At that moment, the cybernetic man could do nothing but look down at his feet. The repairman pulled himself out and looked up at Batou with warm brown eyes, raising a hand for him to firmly collect and shake. It was evident that while he may have been Japanese, he obviously prefered the Western custom of greeting. "Thank you very much."
Batou could do little but look down at that hand and grimace slightly.

"I just... There are other ways, you know. You don't have to wipe your memory."
"No. I do. It is the only way."
"But..."
"Listen. Consider this my final act for Section 9. I created our defense barriers with my own two hands. My mind is chock full of confidentiality agreements, I'm surprised I haven't been brainhacked yet by some low key terrorist group out for revenge. By any means, this is the only way. To assure your safety, to assure this section's safety, and to assure the safety of my family."
"... Fine."

"What? Don't like to shake hands?"
Batou frowned as the silence strangled the moment. Instead, he turned and firmly ignored the man, going back to his purchases. The cry of a child broke the silence, and a young boy barely three years old ran through the slick floors of the small convenient store. Big brown eyes and chocolate hair, dimples and smiles. He giggled and leapt into the arms of the repairman who shared his eye color, hair color, and warm smile.
"Why, Bateau... What are you doing here?" He announced happily, raising the boy a few heads higher than himself
"Ma... Mama!" The child shrilled
A woman stepped out from the door, wearing a simple dress and a simple smile. She approached the man and his son, kneeling down with a small brown paperbag and a chilled beer. "Hello Ishikawa. I thought I'd bring you some lunch."

"Are you sure you want to do this?"
"... I thought I to-"
"No. I mean. Name your kid after me. French names aren't very popular."
"... I think Bateau is a wonderful name, big guy."

Batou rounded the corner with five boxes of dog food and a mess of memories chattering behind him. He found himself a good life. He was happy. Maybe that's why he couldn't stop smiling as he left the store.

"Ishikawa?"
"Yeah."
"Are you sure...?"
"... Let's get this over with."

Author's Notes:
Whose to say Batou isn't Half French Half Japanese? ;)This was a sad fic to write. But at least it's a depart from Batou x Motoko. I love Ishikawa. I really wanted to write a fic on him, something a little angsty, a little bittersweet, and a little pleasant.
Naming his kid after Batou was just a sweet touch.
Please R&R. I love hearing criticism and praise! Really I do!