Fragment Chapter: Birthday Present

Orchis Tower. Forty floors of man-made wonder. Rean forgot exactly how high it was, and as an Instructor, that would spell the end for his reputation. It was midday, so the clear glass windows of the tower glimmered like dazzling plates under the sun. Warm enough to be comfortable, but the altitude at the top floor made for gusty weather. And gusty made eating lunch a bit difficult.

Rean had to remind himself that the topmost floor of a skyscraper was not the usual place to have lunch. He was also sure no one was allowed up here; they only got through because they got Aurelia's permission.

It was his birthday, after all.

"Don't like it?" Fie asked. Her eyes were staring intently at the basket of fish and chips on his lap, barely touched. They lit up when he bit into one of the slices. "Oh…"

He hasn't even told her how good it was. "It's delicious, Fie. Thank you."

"Heh, I already know how delicious it is. Who do you think made it?" Fie could hide it all she wants with haughtiness, but there was no denying the blush that dusted her cheeks. That blush only grew when Rean held out a chip for her to nibble on. She did the same for him, their shoulders leaning on each other now.

The crunchy texture blended well with the herby aroma of the fish, and the mildness of the batter was a pleasing contrast to the strong flavor of the tartar. It wasn't what Rean expected to have for lunch, but Fie said to not eat too much or he would ruin the surprise. He wasn't planning to anyway, considering the party they're going to be having later at night.

Looking out at the horizon, Rean could see the construction of the previously obliterated Garrelia Fortress, the last couple of years doing the bare minimum repairing that gigantic hole in the earth. Below was the busy, industrial streets of Crossbell. Dozens of cars wheeling to their destinations, trying to get by the sea of people traveling to and fro. Over to the side were the grassy green landscapes of the Nord Highlands. Rean half-wondered if there were mountains as tall as Orchis Tower hidden somewhere there.

For some reason, Fie had been insistent they come here. One of her schemes, most likely. Still, he didn't want to bum his girlfriend by being a spoilsport.

"It's funny. Three years ago, we nearly blew this place up," Fie said.

"We didn't. We stopped the ILF from doing that, remember?"

August 31st was when they stopped the railway guns from blasting the tower to smithereens. The day after, September 1st, was a certain silver-haired girl's birthday.

"All I'm saying is: giant explosions tend to be pretty awesome as birthday presents, in my opinion," Fie said, a noticeable roll to her eyes.

"You could have told us that it was your birthday and we would've gotten you an even more awesome one."

"Not as awesome as the one I'm about to give you."

Their lunch finished, Fie stood up and Rean followed her to a corner of the platform. It was tempting to look down, but he willed himself not to. "Alright, 'fess up. Why bring me up here?"

"For your birthday present," was Fie's simple reply. "Close your eyes."

Sighing, Rean obliged. He could probably guess what it was and what she was about to do. Still, he smiled. They kissed numerous times before, but Fie always melted into a puddle of embarrassed goop whenever it involved the lips. And Rean always would, as revenge for her constant teasing. It was cute how innocent she was sometimes.

Anytime now. Not that he was eager or anything.

A foot shoved him backward...

...right off the edge of the building.

"Eh?" was all Rean could say before his eyes met the glaring sun. The sky was a beautiful blue, puffy white with clouds and dotted with the occasional birds flapping in the distance, the wind patted his face and back as —

He was falling.

"AHHHHH!"

A silver blur leaped off the spire and sped towards him. Fie had an endlessly mischievous smile plastered on her face while she fell with him, their skydiving forms reflected gracefully on the glass windows.

They were still falling.

Rean remembered how tall Orchis Tower was now. They were nearly a quarter of the way down. Still plummeting. He was pretty sure a fall from this height was lethal.

They were STILL FALLING. And he was STILL SCREAMING.

Fie held him close, this time with a wink. Rean couldn't feel the arm around his back— he was more concerned with the rising sensation up his stomach. His heavy ribs threatened to burst out of his chest. He could feel it now: the ground crushing his tiny head into gooey chunks of brain matter and gory blood.

Halfway down and they were still falling. The bottom of the tower grew closer and closer. Rean clamped his eyes shut as they neared the inevitable splat.

That all changed when he felt himself soaring through the air. Rean dared to look. Tugging on the line, Fie stretched the elastic rope taut. They swung.

His guts wanted to eject itself out of his throat along with his screams, but the gusts of wind kissing his cheeks felt amazing. Over and across the sides of Orchis Tower, like a pendulum revolving on its axis. His body was weightless, carried effortlessly by the girl cradling him. Holding on for dear life, Fie giggled nonstop.

The hook detached from the ledge and Fie fired her grappling gun again. Rean couldn't breathe for a moment when she did, but his smile widened like a maniac when they dove faster this time. His panic turned into exhilaration as they went around and around, teetering ever closer to the ground.

Fie hugged him tight as a bed of orbal wind cushioned their sudden drop. They rolled onto the roof of a nearby building.

Rean laughed like a hysterical madman. Heart pounding, it thumped louder and louder in his ears. His lungs ached, and the fish and chips were one bad lurch away from being vomited. He could see the beautiful sky again, but it was so incredibly beautiful now when he saw Fie's face with it, her silver hair a charming, windblown mess.

Sat atop his lap, she smiled brightly at him, the red flush adorning her cheeks glowing like fire. "And that was Fie's One Way Express Trip down Orchis Tower," she said, panting as well. "Care to ride again?"

Rean had to heave a few gasping breaths before he could respond. There was, however, only one obvious answer.

"CAN I?"

Define wholesome.

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