Disclaimer: I do not own MGLN but my girlfriend reckons she should!
Author's Notes: Thank you to Some Reader and Ris aeto btheta for the great reviews. Ris aeto btheta you are indeed correct the next chapter is Nanoha's point of view.
I hope you all enjoy the next chapter.
Fairy-Wren.
Chapter 4
Sweet
Nanoha's POV.
I am waiting in the small café/bakery my family own. I am waiting for Hayate, my best friend. I have just finished my shift. I am half leaning and half sitting against a table with my back against the door avoiding the harsh glare outside. I look around. It is still quiet which is surprising for a Saturday mid-morning. I do not mind though. It is a nice change when it is quiet.
I look around the café. I want my apartment to look like the inside of this place. The colours are so warm and grounding. Brown, maroon, a mix between white and grey and pictures of pastries and cakes we have made throughout the years adorn the walls. I find these colours uplifting. Even in the dead of winter just the sight of these colours seems to warm me. I hug myself at the thought of winter.
Would these colours match with what I own though? Would they fit with my strange assortment of ceramic gargoyles? They are so cute, I can't seem to own enough of them. Let's see what else do I own?…numerous animal skeletons from road kills, strange gothic paintings of gory fantasy creatures, nyahaha my fake skeleton coat stand- that always scares people. Oh and the numerous colourful Gothic Lolita dresses, I absolutely love that style.
Hmmm thinking about it I seem so very different from the image people have of me. Hayate has always said I had strange taste but then again she can talk. I like to think of myself as quirky. Come to think of it anyone who visits my apartment doesn't believe it's my place. I love strange, gothic, unusual, misunderstood things. It frustrates me how quickly people judge. Everything has a home with me. Even my three legged ferret Yuuno! I bet you that little bugger is sleeping right now… on my bed… I can't believe his owners wanted to put him down because he wasn't aesthetically pleasing to the eyes after they had to get his leg amputated. Silly people!
Thinking about it I guess these colours are best left for the café then. I will take the feeling they evoke back with me.
I close my eyes and inhale deeply. My mother must have just taken out the freshly made cinnamon buns. They smell heavenly sweet. I could be a little cheeky and say they smell orgasmic ^.^
"Nyahaha I better not let Hayate hear that" I say aloud.
"Hear what?" someone says behind me.
I yelp in surprise and turn around. Hayate is looking at me with a grin plastered on her face.
"Hear what?" she repeats.
"Hayate! Um that…I was…um" come on Nanoha think of something clever and witty "hi" well that wasn't exactly clever nor witty!
"Haha did I just catch you thinking something dirty?" Hayate says as she laughs.
I blush a deep crimson and stammer with: "Me? …dirty?…never."
Hayate looks at me with a look that says it is written all over my face. I guess I am pretty transparent.
"My sweet innocent Nanoha, you are still so very cute and innocent which is surprising considering we have known each other for so many years and considering what your apartment looks like" Hayate says as she comes up to me and pinches my cheek lightly.
"You say that but you like me that way" I reply, yes a somewhat witty reply!
She smiles and shakes her head at me. I laugh back at her and then notice her T-shirt. I haven't seen that one before.
"New T-shirt? What's on it?" I ask as she nods to my first question then take's a step back allowing me a better look. Said black T-shirt has the blue silhouette of a man holding a shot gun surrounded by red silhouetted zombies. All in all a typical Hayate T-shirt.
"Nice" I state.
"I know right? It is called 'bloodlust' I think, I got it online. You should check out the website Nanoha, they may have something you like."
"I would but you know black doesn't really suit me." I reply. Hayate only wears black if she can help it. I tried to get her to wear a different colour once, unsuccessfully. She said black suits her better. I guess after so many years I understand why she says that. I remember back to when we were kids. I remember when Gil her guardian had been diagnosed with a terminal illness. Hayate remained strong in front of him but was hurting inside. He was the only family she had. He suffered for many years and unfortunately passed away. Hayate broke. She wanted to join him. Sadness became her close companion. We fought pretty badly in those dark days. She refused to let me in, she refused any help. Eventually we went to see a counsellor together who gave her strategies to manage and beat her sadness. Hayate could finally breathe. With this new found knowledge she was finding ways to cope with the sadness she had kept close to her like a lover. I admire Hayate in so many ways. She is a survivor and my best friend!
"I am not sure I want to know what you are thinking about with that goofy grin on your face. Come on it's Saturday. Let's go have some fun. There is this shop I have found that I know you will love, it fits right in with your little fetishes." She says as she walks out the door. Hang on did she just say that I have fetishes?
"Hayate, I so do not have fetishes, I just like to collect different things and beside you are one to talk…" I shout back at her as I run out the door to catch up to her.
Mindless chit chat later we arrive at this dodgy looking store hidden in an alleyway. Not a place I would normally go out of my way to see by myself. Thankfully Hayate is here. I look at her a bit uncertain. She smiles gently at me and leads the way holding the door open for me.
As I step inside I am instantly blasted with the smell of incense. Potent is all I can think. After waiting a few seconds to get accustomed to the sickly sweet smell I look around. This place is amazing. The entire place is painted black and there are strange little ornaments everywhere as well as taxidermied animals, some of which I have never seen before or knew existed. The guy behind the counter fits right in with his spiky dog collar and Mohawk as well as his torn sleeveless shirt displaying his tattoo on his arm.
I glance at Hayate who has this smug look of 'I told you so' adorning her face. She points to the ceiling. I look up. At first it takes a bit of time for my eyes to adjust, the lighting is pretty dim. I look at what I think are white stars painted in the blackened ceiling. Hang on they are not stars. I stand on tip toes and squint. Amazing! They are in fact butterflies. Hundreds of them painted. They seem to come out of the paint to dance before my fascinated face. The incense must be going to my head…
The little white butterflies are all facing one direction. Wings captured in different positions as they seem to be moving. Hypnotic! Great care must have been taken when painting them.
"This place is amazing! How did you find it?" I ask Hayate.
She looks at me and with a very Hayate answer says: "I have my sources."
After a little while I had found several items that I like but couldn't decide on any of them so Hayate suggested we go get an ice-cream while I think about it.
Sitting outside in the park on a bench leaning against a picnic table feeling the warmth of the suns rays on my back I savour the taste of my mint choc chip ice-cream.
"Hmmm heaven! I wonder what swimming in a pool of ice-cream feels like?" I wonder out load.
"Cold" Hayate states as she flips through the papers. Ah Hayate, ever the blunt one.
"There has been another attack according to the papers" she says as she lifts the newspaper closer to her face. "Apparently it was a family this time. The man was beaten up but is recovering well. His wounds were superficial. The wife and daughter were unharmed but shaken up naturally. Obviously there are no leads as they won't talk about what the assailant looked like or why they did it. They seem to be too scared to talk. The usual calling card was left at the scene: a gold butterfly spray painted on the road. However this is interesting, apparently the little girl made a comment."
"What did she say?" curiosity always gets the better of me.
"She said that the attacker's looks are deceiving. What kind of kid makes a cryptic comment like that? That's all she said. How frustrating."
We sit in silence contemplating this. Hayate goes back to reading the paper. I listen to her turn the pages and suddenly remember the story of the fortress prince. Now is the time to ask Hayate before I forget.
"Hayate?"
"Hmmm?" she softly replies.
I ask away: "Do you know the story about the fortress prince?"
To be continued…
