Chapter 55

The evening at Blanc's house with Rom doesn't have much event at all currently. Ever since we got home from that strange encounter in the park all we've been doing is what we'd usually do.

Such activities include: Sitting on the couch, watching TV, and reading. Then comes supper time.

Tonight I made some vegetable soup that I learned to make a few years earlier. Rom, being a little kid still was skeptical about trying it at first because of… well you guessed it.

Vegetables

However her opinion was soon swayed after taking just one sip of the broth at least. Once she had a taste for it, she began to add texture to it by including vegetables with her sips.

I'm amazed at how well Rom is at adapting to things and trying new things she thought she wouldn't like. Hell if I gave her broccoli she'd probably eat it. Unlike some lilac haired people I know.

Sorry, I'm projecting a bit aren't I? Before I get back to the point I'd still like to say I'll get Neptune to eat something green other than a Jolly Rancher someday.

Ok, so as I was saying a moment ago, Rom enjoyed the soup and even went back for seconds after she was done. A sure sign that I nailed yet another dinner this weekend.

And not too long after I put away the leftovers and handled the dishes we just started doing what we'd be doing until it was time to go to sleep. Sit on the couch and read for a while.

*Bzzz* Until now because someone text me.

Unlocking my phone I see that it's Blanc. This is the first time all weekend she's contacted me. Let's see what she has to say.

" 'Jack, make sure Rom gets a bath tonight. And don't think for a second about doing anything perverted. Or you'll be considered the worst kind of pervert, a pedophile.'"

Blanc still considers me a pervert? Again, thanks Neptune, you've really screwed with my reputation on this one. And just when I was starting to think you had actual human characteristics.

"Ugh… I'm going to kill her when I get back…" I'm speaking out loud again.

"Huh? Who are you… going to kill?" Damn, she heard me. Better think fast.

"Um… you if you don't take a bath tonight." Good save Jack, good save.

"Jack… are you being… a pervert again?" Why does everyone think I'm a pervert? Oh wait, I already know that.

My grimace comes back quickly and I ponder how I'm going to get back at Neptune for this. Perhaps make her out to be a pervert. Nah that wouldn't work, everybody already knows that.

"What? No, your sister just text me that. See for yourself." I hold the phone to where she can see it. Rom reads the text and understands completely.

"I'm… sorry…" It takes a lot to admit when you're wrong and apologize. She has better manners and more balls than most people I know.

I smile and rub her head only enough to ruffle her hair. Rom didn't seem to expect this. In fact I'm pretty sure she was expecting me to be angry with her to some extent.

She looks up at me with large confused eyes and her mouth open slightly. All she's doing is adding to her cuteness level and not realizing it in the process.

"Cheer up Rom everybody assumes things from time to time. And it takes guts to say you're sorry."

Her mouth moves to make that signature smile of hers. Either my words or a head rubbing caused this. I'll place my bets on the words this time.

"Alright, now go take a bath. Then we can go to bed. And in the morning Blanc and Ram will be back."

"Ok… could you… pat my head some more? I'll… take a bath afterwards…"

A tempting offer to say the least. I see nothing to lose and only profit. I'd be crazy not to take the deal. "Here…"

My hand rubs her head some more. She looks be in a state of pure bliss. Maybe I should get a head rub later just to see how it feels.

After my hand backs off from her, she hops off the couch and walks to the bathroom. How's this for being a pedophile Blanc?

Really, I must "thank" Neptune for everything she's done for me in the past few days. Let's see… ruined mine and Nepgear's encounter, sullied my reputation, and given me a lot of bruises from a pointless beating.

Ugh, maybe I need a bath instead of Rom just to wash out all the stress that I've been taking on lately. I'd make a joke about sharing it to conserve water but that would only open up the doors for Blanc to be proven right.

So for now, I'm just going to change and get ready for bed. If I know Rom as well as I think I do then I'm going to be sleeping in her bed again.

Around ten minutes or so pass before Rom gets done with her bath. I'm sitting in the living room currently wearing an old T-shirt and some old gym shorts. Respectable sleepwear for a guy I think.

Rom's wearing a light blue fizzy bathrobe and has a towel in her hands that's being used to dry her hair.

Normally I'd let mine air dry, but seeing how we're going to bed soon I can see why she's accelerating the process in any way she can.

"Almost ready for bed Rom?"

"Mhm…" She responds like always in a shy manner.

Getting up off the couch, I walk with Rom until we reach her and Ram's bedroom. I open the door for her and let her in. If anything can shake off my pervert image it's being a gentlemen.

Soon after I close the door to give her privacy so she can change. I'd rather not peek on a girl while she's changing, especially Rom. Not only is that perverted, and not only is that pedophilia, Blanc would defiantly kill me. I guarantee it.

A minute or so passes before Rom herself opens the bedroom door back up. She's ready in her light blue pajamas and looks to be awake enough to have a straight conversation.

Rom crawls into bed and waits for me before putting the blankets over herself and I. Surprising me for the umpteenth time today, Rom gets close to me and wraps her arms around my torso and resting her head on where my right arm and torso meet.

I don't mind though, from my point of view it actually looks extremely cute. Damn she breaks the adorable meter so often.

Using my left arm, I turn off the lamp on the nightstand, leaving only the dim light of the nightlight to illuminate the room.

It's not very bright, just enough to make those pesky fears of the dark go away. Well, what hides in the dark is a more accurate description of it.

"Remember… wait until… I fall asleep."

"I haven't forgotten."

"…" Silence is all that passes over us for a short while at least. That's good, a night where Rom doesn't wake up and cry is a good night in my books.

"Hey… Jack… are you still awake?" Ah the late night chatting because you can't fall asleep.

"Yeah, I'm up… need something?"

"I… have a question to ask." Oh dear.

This can go one of two ways. It will either be an innocent question like, "what do I have to preheat the oven to?" Or just some random thing. "Ask away, I've got time."

"What's it like to kiss… Miss Nepgear that is?" Well this is a shocking turn of events. Never in a million years would I expect Rom to ask such a forward question.

"Well… It's sort of like… you know…" I can't come up with a good answer. No matter how much I think about it I just can't find the right words to say.

Wait… why is she even asking me something like this? I'd usually just pass it off as child curiosity but there's got to be something deeper behind her asking.

I pause for a second to collect my thoughts before answering. I think I have a pretty good response to give her this time around. "Kissing Nepgear… it makes my heart race. It makes me stronger yet weaker at the same time if that makes sense. Why did you ask this if I might ask myself?"

"B-because… I was wondering… if you could… give me a kiss…" Rom's voice sounds frailer in comparison to the other times she's spoken around me. I'm not sure how to take this though.

She's pulling out my worst enemy, the puppy dog eyes. If you were to pull those on me, then I'd have no choice but to do what you said lest I feel guilt for it later.

Sigh, I guess I've really got nothing to lose here. And she is being very adorable right now so what harm could it do. And if Nepgear ever finds out I'm sure she'd understand.

"Alright…"

I lean in closer to her and give Rom a light kiss on the forehead. She never said where it had to be. And from the looks of it I don't think she cared whether it was on the cheek, lips, or forehead.

My night adjusted eyes can see that her face is red, but the degree of red isn't clear due to the lack of light.

"Ok, you got your kiss. Will you be going to bed now?"

"One more thing… Promise me… that if anything happens… you won't leave me." A strange yet beautiful request. I believe you already know my answer.

"I promise Rom…"

Rom smiles and nuzzles herself into part of my chest this time. Not long after I can hear faint snoring coming from her. She just gets more adorable by the second I tell you.

Before I fall asleep myself, I lean over one last time and kiss the top of her head. You know, so she'll have pleasant dreams tonight and whatnot.

"Goodnight Rom… I'll see you in the morning."

Morning came in what seemed like the blink of my eye. However, Rom's still by my side and it's a bright sunny day.

Looking at my phone on the nightstand I see that the time is around eight thirty. A little earlier than I woke up yesterday but nothing to be ashamed of.

I'd be ashamed if I woke up at noon like Maurice has done before. At that point you know you did something wrong with your life.

For now I'll just lie here and listen for either Rom waking up or Blanc and Ram returning home. Blanc did text me yesterday that it would be early in the morning when they got back.

*Creak* The front door is opening. They must be home. Damn I'm good at waking right when important things are happening.

I try to get up but I'm caught by something. It's then that I remember Rom's holding onto me in her sleep. I'll try to wake her up the best I can.

"Rom, hey Rom, Blanc and Ram are home." I say while lightly shaking her.

"Mmm… *Yawn*" Oh dear god even her yawns are so freaking cute.

"Come on, Blanc and Ram are here."

She wakes up fully in instant speed. Afterwards she lets go of me and gets out of bed. I soon follow and together we walk to the living room where the two travelers are currently at.

"Rom!" Ram is really excited to see her twin sister. More so than I would expect.

Rom is still a little groggy despite waking up really quickly. Maybe all the blood in her body is getting to where it needs to be for its proper function.

Ram runs over and gives the unsuspecting Rom a hug. Rom closes her eyes and hugs her sister back despite being tired still.

"Well Blanc, I think it's time I take my leave. I'm not needed here anymore."

"Ok, thanks again for this. I'll erase the pervert image of you now."

I shake Blanc's hand and start walking back to Rom and Ram's room to get the bag with my clothes in it. I change real quickly and get back to the front door.

Before I go though, Rom has something she'd like to say. "Before you go… I just wanted… to say thank you… it was fun spending time with you… and…"

*Kiss* Rom plants a kiss on one of my cheeks. A really nice gesture… however Blanc is still watching and I'm pretty sure she's about to get pissed.

"Um Blanc… it's not what it looks like. I'll… just be taking my leave." I turn around and try to walk to the door. However Blanc blocks my way so that I can't exit.

"Please… won't you at least stay for breakfast?" She might be smiling right now, but deep in her soft emotionless voice I can sense a spirit of rage lurking within.

"Um that's alright, I think Maurice might need me later anyway." The best excuse I can come up with on the spot.

"I'm not asking. Stay. For. Breakfast."

A/N: I'm back baby, and I'm better than ever. I just want to say, every time I experience a writers block there's always one review that sparks me to write again. You know who you are.

Anyway, I have two more things to tell all who actually read my authors notes. The first thing is, the next five chapters are going to get pretty deep. And on chapter 60, some people's suspicions will come true.

The second thing is an advertisement for a friend of mine. I don't know if you have or not, but have any of you checked out the story Fade to White: Act I Fire and Ice? My friend Fragarach97 is a talented writer and I feel as if his story has gone… unappreciated. So, as a challenge to you all, I challenge you to read the first three, maybe four chapters and see what you think.

If you don't like it, well you still have me at least. But until then, see you in the next update.