Hello all, and welcome back to another one of my illustrious one-shots! This time around we have a nice short one that I hope you all will enjoy, with a little bit of a 'future AU' type of idea. It's never really explored outside of a flavor text in Lowee in Vii as to what happens to the CPUs after their reigns are done, and never really stated how the candidates go about becoming full CPUs, so I just worked with what I thought would be how it works. Regardless, I hope you all enjoy!
Synopsis: Uni and Nepgear are having a difficult time adjusting to life as full CPUs, and they start finding out they can take solace in each other.
Lonely.
That was the only word Nepgear could use to describe her current mood. It was an overwhelming sense of incompleteness that numbed her very core. As she mindlessly flipped through channels, taking a brief note of anything that interested her for a brief moment. But soon, the feeling would return.
Empty.
Was all she could think of her surroundings. Everything reminded her of how empty even her own bedroom looked. Walking around the CPU wing of the basilicom proved to give no cure for her ailment. It felt as though there was no one beside her anymore, it was an odd feeling.
"Nepgear?"
Of course, even now, she wasn't alone. She still had her ever-trusty oracle beside her. As far as she knew, Histoire was effectively immortal, so at least she would always have her.
"Yes?" Nepgear mindlessly responded as she continued her absentminded flipping through of channels,
"Are you feeling fine?" Apparently, Nepgear wore her emotions on her sleeve. Of course, she knew that. Neptune always was able to see right through her. If she were here right now, she would probably say she looked 'way too much like a certain loner in Lastation'.
"Why do you ask?" Nepgear stopped her searching, as she turned to look her oracle in her eyes, immediately Histoire took note of the sagging bags underneath the goddess's eyes,
"You haven't been getting enough sleep. I keep telling you. A CPU needs to get a proper amount of sleep, so she is able to properly run her country." Histoire lectured, the irony not lost on her.
It had been almost a year and a half since the CPU candidates officially 'graduated' and were now the full-time CPUs of their nations, the previous CPUs stepping down, free to pursue what it is they felt the need to. As ageless humans, they would be afforded plenty of time to figure out their purpose.
Last time Nepgear checked, Noire had started up her voice acting career, and was actually becoming a popular choice among studios for tsundere roles, of course, Neptune found this to be funnier than any joke she had ever heard, even if Noire missed the irony. Noire made it a habit to call Kei very frequently to make sure that Uni was progressing as much as she hoped for, and even if the answer every time was a 'yes', she couldn't help herself.
Blanc spent most of her days secluded, working on her authoring, of course, as you all know, this proved to be futile, and she was not making much headway. Of course, her only dedicated fan was still Vert, who made sure to preorder every single one of her books. The only times she would leave her house was when she was dragged out of it by C-sha in order to go on a hunt. Although, the age of the huntress made this a rarer and rarer event. And, of course, she made sure to visit and check in on her precious sisters every so often.
Vert has already become a legendary competitive gamer in Leanbox, and there was hardly a game she couldn't pick up and immediately become a master at. Vert had finally become lucky enough over the last years of her reign to become an older sister, and she, of course, made several visits a week to smother the poor girl.
Neptune…
Nepgear couldn't help but sigh as she thought about her own sister.
"I'm just feeling a bit lonely is all" Nepgear eventually responded to the platinum blonde diminutive oracle.
Neptune didn't stay in one place for very long. She was very difficult to get a hold of, and often made interdimensional journeys with her older self. (Who by this point was pushing 40). And even when she was in the hyperdimension, she rarely visited, or called. It wasn't as though she didn't care, or that it was out of malicious intent. It's just how the former CPU of purple operated. She was aloof, and she felt her purpose in life was to adventure, helping people wherever she was needed. Nepgear didn't resent her for it at all.
But… that didn't help the feeling in her chest.
"I understand. I know it must be a difficult transition for you. Especially since Neptune is… Neptune. But you also-"
"I know Histoire. But it just feels empty around here…" Nepgear had no intention of hearing the lecture of the fairy for what felt like the hundredth time already. Perhaps that's how Neptune always felt when she received lectures from her.
"Nepgear…" Histoire, while not always keen on emotions, fully understood what Nepgear was dealing with. For her entire life. The planeptune basilicom was always a hub, a practical hive of activity. With a CPU like Neptune, it was only natural. And while Neptune had more than her fair share of faults, that was one thing Histoire always found impressive about her former protege. While Histoire had no issues with the way Nepgear had stepped in, and to the extent where Planeptune was already doing better in an international sense than it ever had under Neptune's rule. She was beginning to worry about her newest partner.
"Don't worry, I'll be fine" Nepgear gave a wry smile as she tried her best to assuage the worries of the woman. Nepgear was just trying to cope was all. It was so different. Not only was Neptune no longer around, but she found that even IF and Compa found themselves around less and less. And, again, she held no contempt towards them for it. They were busy, what with IF now being the head of the guild, and Compa a professor of nursing at a prominent Planeptunian University. While at the same time, being married to one another by this point. Nepgear knew they deserved their spare time to be with one another, and she held no right to complain… but still, couldn't they at least show up a little more often?
"I know Nepgear…" Histoire could only frown. Once more disgusted by her own inability to help someone close to her…
Meanwhile, somewhere across the continent.
"Uni, I'm putting this stack on your desk. These are vital, and have to be done by tomorrow, got it?"
"Got it, Kei! I'll get to it when I can!" Uni yelled back, as she took a deep breath, running her hands through her hair.
Truly, Uni didn't know where she would be if Kei had not agreed to once more assume the role of oracle. She would be lost, to say the least, and she was more than thankful for the assistance of the astute woman.
But, at the same time…
"Gah!" Uni, upon noticing the departure of the very woman, couldn't help but yell out in frustration, violently scratching her scalp. It was just so much! How did Noire ever handle this all? How was she supposed to do this all!? Looking over her disorganized desk, she soon slammed her fists in frustration. "Goddamnit!" It was never-ending. Every day. Different policies, different requests from the citizens, new games and consoles to develop, monster populations to keep in check.
This was just absurd.
Rom and Ram had each other. They were able to work off their strengths well. Rom handled much of the paperwork and governmental policies. With Ram handling the military and monster hunting duties. Nepgear had Histoire, which as much as Uni loved Kei dearly, absolutely no person could come close to being able to do what the artificial being was capable of, and past that, Planeptune's guild was top-notch, and Nepgear rarely was asked to handle to monster populations herself. Even in Leanbox, the nation wasn't nearly as big, and there was far less to manage, and hell, Uni wouldn't be shocked in the slightest if Vert handled more than what she was legally allowed to handle. There was no one more spoiling than Vert.
Uni felt as though the weight of the entire world was on her shoulders.
Of course, not being more than a few feet out in the hallway, Kei could only shake her head. Uni was pushing herself, and Kei was more than aware of it. Over the years she had taken off, Kei had put extensive effort into being a more adept person, being able to handle the aspects of her job past just the logic and crunching numbers. She had to be more nurturing, reasonable, and able to understand the emotions of the goddesses she would be working with. It was one of the things she admired about Mina, and the two had kept in contact over the years.
"You have to make sure their emotions, and feelings are understood, and that they feel they are reasonable in thinking the way they do, while also explaining how you are able to interpret the situation." Kei could hear the voice of her friend in her head. Shaking her head for a moment, Kei slowly made her way back into the office,
"Uni?" Kei asked, as gentle as her voice allowed for,
"Yea? Something else?" Uni almost immediately responded, head firmly buried in her work,
"No, not quite."
"Then what is it? I'm really busy, as I'm sure you are aware" Uni pointed out, and Kei couldn't help but sigh,
"I know. But. Uni, you are pushing yourself" Kei explained, "As important as it is that you accomplish all your work, I am worried about you. And I'm sure Noire would be as well, even she understood the importance of being able to know her own limits, and take a reasonable break when the time called for it" Kei tried to explain her worries as rationally as she could. Even if, in her younger days, she would consider the worry itself to be irrational. But, she figured, she had matured in that way.
"..." Slowly, Uni turned around, as she faced the stoic woman, her face unreadable, although almost shocked in a way, as though she wasn't quite aware she was looking at the same Kei she had known practically her whole life. "Surely, you can't be serious? This is my country now. I have to do everything in my power to not make a mockery of the nation my sister did everything she could to make it as great as it is." Uni spoke, and Kei could only look on, her eyes torn, and the conflict in her heart only worsening, only eventually did she bow, excusing herself.
Uni spoke nobly. And in her mind, that's all she could rationalize what she was doing as. She had to. If she didn't, she would break. She had to keep going. Everyone was counting on her. Her whole nation. Her sister. Everyone. She had to be strong enough, she had to be everything she could be.
Yet… she could still feel it. She knew that what Kei had said was true. She knew damn well she was pushing herself way way way past where she was realistically capable of doing. The stress was eating her alive. But she had pushed herself into a corner, she had to keep going. She had to keep going. She had to keep going. People trusted her. Digging her teeth into her lip to keep her focus up, retching at the taste of iron that now filled her senses, she kept going. For hours, and hours and hours.
Hours later, Kei would return to the room, something about the sight she bore witness to made her want to retch. "Uni…" Was all she could say, looking into the room, Uni, face firmly in her hands, taking deep breath after deep breath,
"They're all done. You can take them." Uni said, almost robotically. As she got up, almost tumbling over from how long she had been sitting at the desk,
"Uni!" Kei rushed over to the tipping goddess,
"I'm fine" Uni waved off the worries of the suit-adorned oracle,
"No! You're not!" Kei mildly snapped at the black-haired goddess, who only looked back, eyes blank
"What do you mean? This is what needs to be done. Now, if you'll excuse me" Uni stabilized herself, before taking off, out of the room. Leaving behind Kei, who did her best to keep her composure, picking up the documents in one hand, before following Uni out of the room. As they walked down the hall, Kei could only raise an eyebrow when she saw Uni taking off for neither the washroom nor her bedroom, instead heading towards the exit,
"Hmm? Where are you heading, Uni?"
"Nowhere. I'll be back" Uni eyed Kei as she continued, unperturbed.
Kei could only sigh, she knew very well where Uni was going. Although, she considered, that person would be much better suited to being able to help Uni. She always was. Kei could only shake her head at her powerlessness as she made her way farther into the building. Maybe she should make a call with Mina again…
Uni took a few deep breaths as she made her way out of the building, thanking the guards as she made her way into the relatively fresh air. Savoring the refreshing feeling of the air. After a few moments of walking aimlessly down the street, she focused herself as she had a hundred times before, feeling her body overtaken with a surge of energy as she was soon replaced by the now more developed form of Gray Heart (SVS was not out when this was written, Gray sister doesn't exist lol) while her form was still nothing compared to Nepgear, or even Rom or Ram at this point, at least she didn't shrink any more.
Shakily, she floated herself up, setting her eyes westward as she took off, leaving behind her city, and her country, and for the moment, all the stress and worry they brought with them. If only for the night.
By this point, Nepgear had managed to find something on the TV to at least hold her attention, or perhaps it was just she was growing tired of flipping through stations. By this point, it was getting late, but still, she held no desire to go to sleep. Ironic, she considered, as Neptune had to be yelled at nearly every day to not sleep all day, and here she was driving herself to the brink of exhaustion. She would find it funny if it wasn't beginning to weigh heavily on her sanity. Letting out a deep yawn, Nepgear trained her eyes on the TV once more, not that she was really paying much attention.
Eventually, Nepgear could hear a numb ding ring out behind her. Slowly, she turned around, knowing the sound to be that of the elevator. She could finally feel a smile work its way onto her face at the sight of her visitor. Who wasted no time with greetings, kicking off her shoes as she made her way over to the purple-haired gearhead. Sitting down in her lap, with Nepgear wrapping her arms around her fellow CPU.
For an extended period of time, that was all they did. With Nepgear enjoying the company, and Uni letting her tired and overworked mind work itself down. Eventually, Uni settled back, resting her head into the soft comfort of Nepgear's chest, as Nepgear let her hands work their way through Uni's clearly matted hair. Carefully she took out the ties that usually held the raven-colored hair into its distinct twin tail, working her fingers through the mess that Uni had let her hair become, with Uni letting out a content sigh, with a pout, Nepgear spoke the first words of the night,
"You haven't been taking care of your hair." she scolded, and Uni could only sigh,
"I haven't had the time" She explained,
"I'll make you shower!" Nepgear threatened, and Uni let out a genuine laugh at the comment,
"You'd like that wouldn't you?" Uni smirked,
"Duh," Uni rolled her eyes at the expected reaction.
Neither even was particularly aware of when it happened, likely in one of the first few months after they had taken over for their sisters. One night Uni making her way all the way to Planeptune, tears in her eyes from all the stress, to find comfort in her best friend's embrace. Somehow, this had become somewhat routine for the CPUs. Calmly they would spend the night, talking about everything and anything, pretending, if even for a night, that they could just be people, and not goddesses the whole world relied on.
They had wordlessly come to the agreement that during this time, they would hold no secrets from one another. Somewhere along the lines, somehow both realized that deep down, they both knew that their affections towards one another could no longer be encapsulated in the terms of 'friendship'. They knew that, by this point, their affections could only be described as love.
Although. For as much as they loved each other, only now did the pair let themselves speak honestly on it. For just these nights would they let themselves be in their love's embrace. When the day would break, they would have duties to return to. And both knew- they would not be able to maintain a healthy balance between the two. So, this was the compromise they had wordlessly developed.
At the time, Uni didn't know what to think, until one day, she finally found the nerve to ask Kei her opinion on the matter,
"It sounds to me like Nepgear is your coping mechanism" The stoic woman simply responded.
"What do you mean?" Uni seemed confused by the phrasing,
"You're going through a difficult transition. Everybody needs something that keeps them grounded, that makes them feel safe, and that helps them cope with the hardships of life. When I conversed with Mina recently, she discussed how after tough days, sometimes Rom and Ram will sleep together like they used to when they were small. Perhaps that is what Nepgear is to you"
Uni thought over the words, as she snuggled deeper into Nepgear's embrace, feeling the stress from the past weeks melt away. Maybe there was something to what Kei had said, but to Uni?
Coping mechanism? That didn't do justice to what Nepgear was. She was so much more. She was everything Uni needed.
This was enough. If it were only for these few moments of relief, the two would make it. Together.
"You hear about what happened to Ram?"
"No? She lose it and almost declare war on Leanbox… again?" As if solely to carry on the tradition, it was already famous among the CPUs how little the new CPU of Leanbox and the younger of Lowee's dual CPUs got along.
"Goodness no… I feel bad for Rom sometimes…" Nepgear nervously laughed, Rom on numerous occasions had to prevent another console war from starting up. Uni let out a soft chuckle,
"Then what?"
"Apparently, when she went on a quest a few days ago she got lost so badly that she was missing for almost a full day, they even had to send out a search party for her" Nepgear explained, and Uni couldn't help but laugh at the misfortune of their friend.
"That sure sounds like Ram alright, I bet Rom nearly had a heart attack"
It was the little things the two appreciated. The calm conversations. No pressure, they could just be together.
"Hey, Noire has a role in a show that came out recently, I haven't gotten to watching it yet. Wanna watch it?" Uni asked, and Nepgear pondered it for a moment, still working her hands through Uni's hair,
"Hmmm sure, not like I'm particularly interested in whatever's on"
And so that's where they found themselves, after Nepgear went to grab some snacks and some drinks, with Uni grabbing a blanket for the duo. They would reassume their comfortable position, spending the night together. Maybe one day they would become more, maybe one day they would share every night like this.
But, for now?
"I love you"
"I know"
It would be good enough. Eventually, the night would turn to day, and they would once more be separated. And even if they had only managed a few hours of sleep, they both felt more refreshed than they ever would sleeping alone.
All the while, behind the scene, Histoire could only smile as she looked down at her miniature mobile device. The picture she had just taken of the two in the process of being sent to a pudding-loving goddess, who despite what Nepgear thought, had texted Histoire nearly every day to make sure her precious sister was still ok.
Hello hello, I see the two regulars are back once more, so I'll get to it
end5- thank you as always, and i hope you enjoyed this one as well!
Gigarot- As I said, I have a few more sequels I plan on writing (including one I really think you'll enjoy) past that, I'm more of a Mario kart Wii guy, but double dash was fun lol. Noire sure does catch a lot of strays for being a bad older sister, which I don't think is entirely accurate, she sure tries her best, but it just doesn't work out most of the time. Uzume despite being older than Gear, is still quite naive, so she may need to lean on her a bit, as far as Neptune and Uni, I'm sure they'll think of a few ideas the group can have to go on a few more dates.
