Croix sighed as she stared at her Eve, sleeping on a pile of bills that were scattered all over the table. Ever since she started living with the two sisters, she found herself more concerned about them than her life been threatened by Diana.
"Is this supposed to be normal?" She asked the brunette who almost fell off the stairs again.
"Oh! That happens every time my sister is stressed out. She'd fall asleep anywhere and anytime." Akko explained as she walked towards them, and poked the red head. Chariot remained blissfully unaware.
"I'm not surprised, given that she has to deal with such a clumsy sister and a good for nothing Eve." Diana commented as she sat on the couch, reading a book, while the other two stared at her offended.
"Hey!" They both said, startling Sleepy Ash from her sleep, but not Chariot.
"If she doesn't wake up, she'll be late for her shift." Croix said, then gently shook her Eve, trying to wake her up. When it didn't work, she decided to use another way.
Croix had no other choice but to carry the woman on her back and take her upstairs so she could freshen up, resulting into suspicious glares coming from her own sister.
She was a servamp, not a babysitter.
"Chariot, please… don't sleep in the sink." Croix begged her Eve as the latter was half asleep under the running sink. Letting out a deep breath, she helped her out, and pulled her away from the sink.
A while later, Chariot sat at the table, fully awake. Croix was cooking a breakfast for everyone, Diana sat quietly while Akko moved her feet up and down, waiting for the food.
"I'm going to be late if I eat breakfast." Chariot complained as she stared at the clock. She was extremely nervous and stressed because of work and the fact that she has a bill that she to pay back to the café that her sister destroyed. This time, she really couldn't afford to miss work or be late or else she would have to sell the house.
"You'll be fine. I'll carry you to work." Croix said as she put the food plates in front of each person, then bent down to put a cat bowl for Sucy who didn't even bother to take her human form. "It would be faster than waiting for a bus that will be late, or running." She continued, sitting down as well. She wasn't hungry though.
"I'm not letting you carry me!" Chariot retorted but her Servamp ignored her protests. The red head frowned, then turned to Akko. "What are you going to do? You can't have Diana follow you inside the school."
"I already took care of it." Diana answered, not bothering to lift her eyes from her food. She didn't want to admit it, but Croix's cooking was amazing. She must have learned it while she was away.
"What do you mean you took care?" Croix asked, only to receive a glare and a silent threat. Sleepy Ash snickered and jumped on Croix's lap, watching the exchange in amusement.
"Can't you two get along?" Akko asked, and got an answer from the cat instead.
"This is nothing. Imagine if Silence and Lawless were here." Both sisters winced.
"I would lose my sanity." Diana commented, and the servamp of Lust nodded.
That was something they both agreed on, at least.
Chariot looked at the time and finished her food. Akko stood up to hug her sister before she'd leave. Croix picked up the cat and put her on the sofa before heading out with her Eve.
Akko finished her plate as well and put it in the sink, then went to pick up her bag. Diana took a deep breath, preparing herself for whatever trouble the brunette would bring today.
"You won't make it unless you let me carry you." Croix said, walking behind her Eve, who completely ignored her. "I promise I won't try anything."
"Says the one who stole my first kiss against my will." Chariot muttered, causing the lilac haired woman to laugh.
"You'll never forgive me for that, huh?" She asked with a raised eyebrow, but got no answer. She pulled her hands from her pockets and caught up to the red head. "Well, since I already kissed you against your will, it wouldn't hurt to do the same here."
"What?" Chariot turned, cautious of the servamp, but she was suddenly pulled into All Of Love's arms, and before she knew it, she was carrying her in bridal style. "What are you doing?!"
"Taking you to work of course."
"What? No! Drop me! Let me go-" Chariot's protests went unheard as her servamp jumped high in the air, and landing on a rooftop, before continuing to jump to the next one. The red head held into her, and tried not to look down. She closed her eyes, and began to notice something as she 'flew' along with Croix.
Croix was really warm.
-L&M-
"I still can't believe this is true…" Lotte said as she walked with Akko and Diana. When her friend told her that she had a vampire as her servant, she didn't believe her and assumed it was another one of her wild ideas, but Akko and her… 'servamp' proved it to her.
Akko had to try her best to convince the sin of pride to drink her blood, and the latter kept refusing saying something about bad taste.
"Isn't it amazing?!" Akko exclaimed and grinned, while Diana winced at her loud voice. "We should get you one too!" She threw an arm around her friend, who in return was taken aback.
Of course she wanted a vampire as her servant. She reads Nightfall for crying out loud.
However, even if that would fulfill her wildest fantasies, she was still a reasonable person.
"But, Akko… you told me they turn into animals, I can't just take one in especially if they have a form like your servamp. She's a lioness!"
"I would like to interrupt you and tell you that we are not toys." Diana said, making her Eve frown.
"Aw, don't be like that! You know that's not what I meant!" Akko pouted, and when they reached the school, she waved at Diana, who watched her go.
Diana had a blank look on her face. She sighed and waited for a while before walking inside as well.
Akko and Lotte took their usual seats and they ignored the looks their classmates Avery and Barbara gave them. The two were bullying Akko since day one, but it wasn't a big deal because she was capable of fighting back, and all they ever did was send some insults her way.
Their teacher soon came in, looking as stern as always. Akko gulped as she sent her a glare.
Her house wasn't the only thing she'd destroy on a daily basis.
"Listen! There will be a transfer student today!" Finneran announced to the class, and the two friends stopped chatting and looked at their teacher.
"A transfer student at this time of the year?" Lotte wondered while Akko looked bored. However, her mouth hang open when she saw the person walking into the classroom. Her hair was white with some green streaks, her eyes were light blue, and her presence was stronger than anyone's in the room.
"DIANA?!" Akko yelled as she stood up, but the action was so sudden that she fell off her desk.
This time, her servamp couldn't help but smile, because for once, she was the one to get the better of the brunette.
"Atsuko Kagari! You better behave or you're getting detention!" Finneran yelled, and the brunette stood up quickly and went back to her seat.
-L&M-
"I should leave at the usual time, so you can go anywhere near until I'm done." Chariot said, stopping in front of the restaurant. She fixed her hair because the flying ruined it. Croix just pouted.
"I saw you model, so why can't I go inside?"
"You'll just distract me." Chariot said, and ignored the smug look on the servamp's face. She walked in, and once again she was met with the sight of an angry manager, and more shifts to take over.
She sighed and pulled her phone, looking through her contact list. She clicked and waited for the person to answer as she angrily tapped her foot against the floor.
"Hello? This is Marjoline, rising rock star-"
"Marjoline, you better pray to god I don't find you or else I'm going to break that new guitar of yours." Chariot threatened, and her friend gulped and held her guitar closer.
"If this is about the shifts… My shows will be over this week! I'll come back to work soon!" Marjoline laughed awkwardly through the call but her friend was having none of it. "I promise I'll pay you back!"
"You can start by paying my bills." Chariot deadpanned, finishing the call. She took a deep breath and buried her face in her palms. "This is fine." She told herself, before leaving to change into her uniform.
She took some orders, delivered some others, and while she was doing more work than usual, it wasn't something she couldn't handle. She didn't have any photoshoot today, so she could rest when she's done.
"How can I help you?" She asked, smiling and holding the pen against the paper, ready to take her next order. Her smile dropped when she saw who it was and her face was a mixture of annoyance and disappointment. "Croix…" She muttered.
"Oh, hello Chariot! You look lovely in that outfit." Croix winked at her, glancing between her Eve and the menu. Chariot just sighed and tried to go back to work.
"What is your order?"
"Can I order you?" Croix asked, grinning. She knew from experience that she was really suave and 'charming' as some people would put it, but Chariot was certainly not one of these people, because she simply walked away without answering or looking at her.
"Hey, Chariot!" Croix heard a man calling out for her Eve, and saw Chariot stopping her work and walking to him. She assumed this guy was the manager. She smirked, and went to the bathroom. She left the door a bit open so that she could leave the room in her butterfly form. She flew unnoticed and landed close to them, trying to hear their conversation.
"Sir, you can't be serious!" Chariot protested to whatever suggestion he gave her. She looked angry, and he looked anxious. "I can't do every job in this place! If the chef is feeling sick, find another one! I won't do this!"
"Chariot, please, you'll get paid for it!" He begged. "He was fine earlier, but now he can't cook and we can't leave all our customers hanging! That would ruin the place's reputation!"
"I have been working extra shifts that went unpaid, doing twice the work I should do, but that doesn't mean I should run this place on my own! Sir, if you could just learn to control your workers and have them come to work then-"
"Excuse me?" Chariot stopped pouring out her anger and frustration and turned to whoever was interrupting them, and of course it was Croix. She looked at confused, and irritated. Her servamp's mischief was the last thing she needed at the moment. "Can I talk to you for a second?" The lilac haired woman said, and the manager looked at the red head one last time before leaving.
Chariot left to the kitchen, and once she was alone, she rested against the wall and covered her face, letting out long sigh.
It wasn't fair. Why did she have such bad luck? Why couldn't good things happen to her for once?
She was frustrated. She was trying her best but no one ever gave her enough credit!
"Are you okay?" The question snapped her out of her thoughts, and that when she noticed that she was crying, and that Croix was staring at her with wide eyes.
If a hole could appear and help her disappear, that would be amazing.
"Why… are you here?" She asked, angrily wiping away the tears. Croix must find her pathetic. What a joke she was… crying from a little bit of stress. "Look, you should leave-" Her words got caught into her mouth when a hand landed on her head, patting it.
"It's okay. Let it all out." Croix said, and Chariot looked up at her with wide eyes. That was the last thing she expected. She couldn't even say anything to that.
It was out of nowhere.
And it was coming from Croix of all people.
Croix… was the same person who saved her when she didn't have to, cooked for her, and took care of her…
Perhaps, Chariot wasn't giving Croix the credit she deserved.
The simple gesture had a calming effect on her, she felt the raging beating of her heart go back to calm and regular beats.
Then, the servamp pulled her hand away, and Chariot immediately missed the contact.
"Sorry, I uh… that used to calm Queen and Silence whenever they fought or whenever Queen felt bad…" Croix apologized, rubbing her neck and avoiding eye contact. It was strange, seeing her without her suave act. The red head kept staring, and that caused Croix to go back into her normal state. "You could just ask for a picture, you know. It would last longer." She said with a wink, and somehow, the world starting turning the right way again.
Chariot put a hand on her heart and let out a sigh of relief.
"You're back to normal. I thought the world was ending." Chariot said.
"Wow, I feel very appreciated." Croix deadpanned. "Anyway, I talked to your manager, and I will be your chef today. It's my pleasure to work with you." She said, smiling, and once again, Chariot couldn't help but stare.
"Huh?"
-L&M-
"How did you do it? How did you trick them? Aren't you like, centuries old?" Akko asked and was immediately shushed by her best friend. They were getting lunch away from prying eyes because everyone was trying to talk to Diana. For the past few classes, she has been answering every question and it got everyone fawning over her.
"I have my ways." Diana answered simply, eating her lunch.
"What do you mean you have your ways?! You should have told me!" Akko pointed her finger at the servamp of pride, who simply ignored her. "Wait, does that mean you can tutor me?" Akko's mood immediately changed from anger to happiness, as she realized that her grades could be saved.
"No."
"DIANA PLEASE! I WILL DO ANYTHING!" Akko was on her knees, begging her, Lotte was staring right and left hoping no one was looking and Diana didn't even look at her.
"You can start by not talking." Diana said, and the brunette covered her mouth with both hands, nodding. "Now, stop breathing."
"I'LL DIE IF I DO THAT!" Akko stood up and yelled, causing the servamp of pride to smile slightly.
"Exactly."
"Well, at least now you can spend ALL your time with me! Isn't that amazing? You can take me and Lotte on a ride as well!" Akko said, sitting down next to her friend, who in return was questioning all of her life choices as she sensed the servamp's bloodlust. "And how about we get Sleepy Ash to become Lotte's servamp?" She suggested.
"Oh, no! I don't think I…"
"Sure." Diana answered, making them both stare at her. "Find a way to get rid of Lust, while you're at it."
"I like Croix! She's a great cook and she's nice!" Akko smiled, thinking of the other servamp. She took a liking to her right away, but her answer only made Diana sigh.
"I see. It's a shame that she got herself such an interesting Eve while I'm stuck with you." She said, finally finishing her food, and her words seemed to touch a nerve.
"What do you mean by that?" Akko asked, glaring at her. "I might do stupid stuff, but I'm a better Eve than you think I am! You'll have to accept that, Diana!"
"In that case, I won't accept it, until you prove it to me." Diana said, standing up. She turned and started to walk inside, and Akko could see random students stopping her to talk to her.
The brunette huffed and crossed her arms. Those words just ignited a fire inside her, the resolve to prove that she was better than what her servamp saw. And she won't stop, until Diana treats her as an equal.
"Lotte!" She suddenly said, causing her friend to almost jump off her seat.
"Yes?"
"You're going to help me study!"
"Y…Yes?" Lotte could only stutter, wondering how she found herself in this situation. Then again, this was how things have always been with Akko.
"Oh, look. It's Kagari." The two heard a familiar and unpleasing voice, causing them to frown. Avery stared at them with crossed arms, and an impish smile, and exchanged a long with Barbara, who flipped her hair, as if to look superior.
Akko crossed her own arms as well and leaned forward, as if challenging them. Lotte looked between them, and tried to think of a way to ease the situation and not get into any trouble.
"You're friends with the new girl? She seems too smart and pretty to befriend trash like you." Avery said, and her friend giggled.
"Maybe she's hanging out with you out of pity?" Barbara added, and Akko was about to jump on her if it weren't for a voice stopping them.
"What do you think you're doing?" Diana stood behind the bullies, and everyone stared at her astonished. This was why she didn't like humans, all they do is cause unnecessary conflicts. They are selfish, and arrogant…
And yet All of Love loves them.
"Akko, Lotte, let's get going. Class is about to start." She said, and Akko exchanged a glare with the bullies before taking Lotte's hand and following Diana.
She could never understand what her sister saw in them.
-L&M-
Hours went on as Chariot and Croix worked together. It was hard for only two people to do all the work, but they managed. With the arrival for the other coworkers and change of shifts, Chariot finally put away her uniform and let out a long sigh of relief.
It was a long couple of shifts.
She walked out, and Croix was waiting for her inside. The chef came back to work but it seemed like the customers preferred her cooking.
She had centuries of learning, after all.
"I thought I was going to die." Chariot said, while Croix smiled.
"You did great."
"I owe you one, Croix. If I had said another word to him, I might have lost my job." Chariot said with a smiled, and that led to her servamp leaning closer to her.
"How about a kiss?"
"You just had to ruin it, didn't you?"
Croix laughed, pulling away. "Your manager sure is something. He's a desperate guy, how come something like him kept the place running?" She asked.
"We keep it running for him." Chariot let out a tired chuckled.
The two walked in silence, and the servamp watched her Eve. She looked exhausted, and she deserved better than to work so hard then go back and sleep right away.
"Hey, do you want to grab something to eat? You've been working for hours." She suggested, and frowned when the red head shook her head.
"I'll eat when I get home. I can't afford to pay anything extra." Chariot answered with a sight.
"I'll pay." Croix suggested, and took her hand, before leading the way. "Your manager gave me some money as thanks and might have suggested that I work there."
"What?" The red head followed her, baffled. She looked at their hands, then at Croix, and a smile appeared on her lips.
These moments, when Croix would show this side of her, are the ones where she appreciates having her in her life.