February 14, XXXX
Valentine's Day was important for many Babylonians. A lot of stores and restaurants were decorated commemorating the event, but some did not celebrate it.
The Gray Raven commandant, Findlay, did not particularly celebrate the event so much, but working with his squad, he received a few gifts from them during the occasion, and so decided to refund the favour.
The Gray Ravens had no operation today due to Findlay recently recovering from his wounds from the previous battle. The fight on the ISS was tough, and unfortunately Findlay suffered a few major injuries and was in the process of recovering.
His recovery was swift however, and is ready for operation in about two days time. He decided to go for a stroll, looking over to do something in his free time besides more training. He saw many stores selling Valentine's related garments, food, gifts and the more. This gave him an idea to buy a few items for the Gray Ravens, but he didn't know where to start.
He sat at a bench to think to himself what to get as a good gift for his team. He's been working with them for a few good years, and yet here he is, sulking because he doesn't know what to get for his own team.
He laid there for a few moments, deep in thought, making sure to find something good enough, until something clicks for him.
Standing from his seat, Findlay decided on the items he wanted:
A frog plushie for Lucia, a specific brand she seems to love a lot, with some special additions.
A small robot, maybe some added stuff by himself personally for Lee.
A biosphere, depicting life on Earth for Liv in a clear, spring, grass field.
He went to the many stores, and bought what he wanted. This wouldn't be enough of course, so he would have to go back to his dormitory to make it more special.
He places his goods inside his bag, before finally walking back to his dormitory.
"Commandant!" someone yelled out, a voice familiar to him.
He looked in the direction of whoever called him, spotting a black haired girl, with clothes using a dark and red colour palette.
"Lucia, what ye doing here?" he called out to the girl.
Lucia looked over to Findlay's direction. "Commandant, I was looking for you."
"Really nau? And why that be the case?" he asked her.
"You weren't present at your dorm, so I tried to find you."
"Hau did ya find me?"
"I assumed you were at the range, then I looked around Babylonia to find you."
Findlay's eyes widened at her response. "Ye were gonna look around all over the place for me?"
"Yes, commandant."
"Why? Ya could always contact me."
"You never responded to my communication requests."
Findlay was about to respond, when he remembered his arm felt lighter than usual. His face drops when he realized the situation.
"Oh… Oh I think I knau the reason…" Findlay says, his entire body feeling heavier from his stupidity.
"Why?" she asked.
"Nothin' important, don't ya worry 'bout it."
Findlay's eyes look to a box Lucia was holding.
"Say, what's this?" he asked, bending down for a better look.
"It's a present for you, commandant. Today is Valentine's day, and as I remember, is the day we give gifts to the people we like," she explained.
She handed her gift to Findlay. "Here commandant, like always, you are still the person I like."
Findlay smiles at the offer, taking the box off her hands.
"Thanks dear, I don't kni hau to repay ya," he replied.
Lucia started to smile, looking into the eyes of Findlay. "No need, commandant, it's alright. Happy Valentine's day."
Findlay frowned at her response. He couldn't simply not give anything in return right now. He has the frog plush sure, but he wants to make it more special.
Findlay chuckles in embarrassment, looking away from Lucia. He has a plan, but he doesn't know if he's gonna like it.
"Commandant? What's wrong?" Lucia asked, looking over to meet his gaze. "Do you not like it?"
"Nah nah, not the case, just uhh, I kni hau to repay ya, just not sure if you'd like it," he replies, his face being nervous and flustered.
"I will accept whatever you have commandant."
Findlay takes a deep breath, before looking over to the girl before him.
"If ya say so," he says, before he brings himself forward.
He strokes away a few bangs from Lucia's forehead, before making his move.
Lucia sees Findlay inch closer to her, before she feels something soft on her forehead. Her eyes dart upwards, before seeing what her commandant was doing.
Findlay's lips meet Lucia's forehead. His kiss remains for a few moments, before he stops, directing his gaze to the girl's face.
Lucia looked brighter than the sun for how much she was blushing at the act.
"Commandant, was that really necessary…?" she asked, trying to keep a smile but instead seems to get a little stiff.
"I said I'd give ya somethin' in return, and I did, me dear," he replied, his hand this time cupping her cheek.
"Thanks for the gift. If I'm the one you like, then you're the one I like, simple as that."
Lucia looks downward to the floor.
"I could give ya another one, if ya'd like." Findlay teased.
"Are you actually alright, commandant? You're normally not like this," she asked.
"Just feelin' a little sweet today I suppose. So, you still want me offer?"
Lucia stiffened up, averting her gaze from Findlay.
Findlay removes his hand from her cheeks, before brushing up Lucia's forehead.
"Well whatever, come on nau, I got to get back to do some stuff, I just had to…Collect somethin' from a guy I kni," Findlay said.
"Of course, commandant," Lucia replied.
Lucia carries on, while Findlay trails behind, his body feeling heavy as he facepalms.
"Yer feckin' crazy, what's wrong with ya?" he thought to himself, his arm feeling as it is tearing through his face.
"I'm…Sure she'll forget this, right?" He reassured himself, before shaking his head.
"Ya kni she'll remember this," he muttered.
"Commandant, are you sure you're alright…?" Lucia asked, noticing Findlay tailing behind.
"Ah! Aye, I am lass, just catchin' me breath," he replied.
Lucia continues to walk on ahead while Findlay follows, examining his friend's gift.
A box of chocolate, pretty plain looking but still looks good, until he gets to the bottom to see a note of broken kitchen utensils that need replacing.
His body weakens at what Lucia could have done this time, before brushing it off, on his way to complete the gifts of the rest of the Ravens.
By the end of the day however, his recovery has halted and will be ready for operations in five days time.
Findlay sat by his desk, leaning hard on his chair as he stared at the monitor in front of him. A document of some sort, that was submitted by a studying commandant under him.
Once again, the Gray Ravens are met with no operations today, however this was not a vacation for Findlay, instead evaluating paperwork from a student. The document before him was a battle plan in a city operation, though it was riddled with many errors and terrible tactics that Findlay spent hours educating them on their mistakes.
A glass in hand, filled with mild cider, he takes another sip before leaning forward to the microphone.
"Alright, ya got the jist of it I see. This should be up to standards. Just remember what I taught you, alright?" He said.
"Of course, thank you for your time, sir," a female voice spoke, before cutting off communication.
Findlay melts into his seat, drink still in hand.
"Finally feckin' done with this bullcrap!" He yelled loudly in his dorm, but not enough to let others hear him.
He finishes his cider, plopping the glass back onto the desk, before relaxing on his seat.
A few moments later, a knock is heard from his door, his eyes looking at the direction.
"Come in!" He yelled, the doors opening to Lucia, this time in her new frame. Her hair is made to be twin tails and a thruster seems to be following behind her.
Findlay sits up from his seat, spreading his arms open, as if inviting her to a hug. "Lucia, dear! What brings ya here?"
"I wanted to give you a present today, since it's Valentine's day," Lucia says, a small box in hand.
Findlay drops his arms and expression, before sulking in his chair.
"Ah crap… I completely forgot!" he spoke out. "I didn't get squat for any of ya, I'm so sorry!"
"Commandant, it's fine, don't worry," Lucia replied. "Just you accepting this gift is enough for me."
Lucia hasn't really changed one bit, except being much more expressive, which is a nice change of pace. Alas, this did not stop Findlay from thinking he has to get a gift, simply as it is not enough.
"Do you… Want anything in particular, Lucia?" Findlay asked, awkwardly leaning back to his chair.
Lucia ponders for a moment, before looking at Findlay again.
"If my memory data serves me correctly… Two years ago, you kissed Lucia's forehead as a gift, combined with a specially decorated flog plush, right?" she explained.
Findlay immediately flusters hearing of this, opting to look away, covering his face slightly with his hand.
"Oh… Ye remember that moment…" he says, chuckling embarrassingly from remembering his antics.
Findlay snaps his head back afterwards, turning to Lucia. "B-but! I think I can, uh, guess that ye want another flog plush that's uh…"
He pauses for a moment, before continuing. "Decorated by me, right? No way she enjoyed the kiss I gave 'er!"
"Actually… I am sure she did," Lucia replied, Findlay facepalming himself in response.
"What have I gotten meself into? I know how she never minded but it was a little awkward for me after the fiasco. What was I even thinking back then!?" He thought to himself.
Findlay looked up to the girl looking at him. "So…I assume you want another one?"
"Yes Commandant…I want to see why Lucia liked it so, to hasten my memory recovery process," Lucia replied.
Findlay raised an eyebrow at her suggestion. "Really? Didn't ya say when you invited me to a date that your memory recovery's complete?"
Lucia looked to the side, averting her gaze away from Findlay.
"Um…Some of my memories are still muffled, and I would like to get back some of the ones that are still a little blurry…" she replies, still keeping her gaze away from her commandant.
Findlay chuckles at her response.
"I don't know about that, but uh, just leave yer gift on me desk," he said, pointing towards his desk.
Lucia's face had a look of disappointment for a second, before brightening up again. "Got it, commandant."
"And please, just call me by name, I thought we discussed this already," he replied, getting up from his seat.
"Ah… Sorry Commandant."
"Yer doin' it again."
"Right… Sorry then, Findlay."
Findlay opens up a refrigerator, before turning back to Lucia. "Hey lass, can ya come here for a sec?"
Lucia looks over, approaching the man. "What is it?"
Findlay brought his hand to the back Lucia's head, pulling her in as he plants his lips to her forehead.
Lucia makes a small yelp of surprise, her body arching back from the sudden gesture.
"F-Findlay, Eh!?" Lucia asked, stuttering while her face was fully bright red, her body shaking.
Findlay pulls back after his long kiss, looking down to Lucia. "Ya did say you wanted this again, and so I delivered."
Lucia began shaking from her gesture while her face was covered in a bright red hue.
Findlay then brings his free hand to intertwine with Lucia's.
"I suppose ya wanted this too, since it's one of your most desired gifts," he commented, looking to Lucia's face.
Lucia was shaking immensely at this point, from the kiss to the hand holding, it surely has become too much for the poor girl.
"Ye alright?" Findlay asked.
"Yes Findlay… Just uh… Feeling uh… Weird is all…" Lucia replied, shaking almost uncontrollably that even Findlay can feel it from his hand.
"I can stop if you'd like," Findlay responded.
Lucia still shook but her head snaps to look at Findlay. "No, Findlay… In fact I… Do like this…"
"Would you… Like another one?"
Lucia did not speak, instead nodding her head, resting her head to his chest.
Findlay smiles, but does nothing as of yet. Lucia brings her free hand to embrace her commandant.
"So Lucia, back then you said I was the one ye liked, does that still hold true?" he asked her.
"Y-yes… Findlay…" she replied.
"Then my answer shall remain the same," he says, before he places his lips on her forehead again, a deeper kiss than the previous one.
He breaks free after a few moments, looking at Lucia who looked as she was really gonna pass out. "And for the record, I'm still sober, heh."
Lucia stayed silent, but continued her intense tremors for a few moments, before finally calming down.
The two remained in their position of comfort for what felt like an eternity, as if the war had not happened.
"Well, I still have an entire day an Valentine's. Thanks for the gift, but I needa get something for you, Liv and Lee," Findlay says, moving to his closet.
"Findlay you… Already gave me the greatest gift today," Lucia replied, still shaking, but subtly this time after the events, though her face remained the brightness of a star.
"Still don't sit right with me that I got no gi-"
"Please Findlay… You've given enough, but have I given you enough?" Lucia asks, embracing him from behind.
"Certainly dear, you have," he replies, grabbing a coat from his closet while his free hand caressed one of Lucia's.
"You wanna come with me though in gift shopping? I'm not much of a guy who goes shopping to be honest, but having yer company would make it better," he asks.
Lucia nods in response, breaking away from her embrace, with Findlay putting on a dark coat.
"Well it's about time we get going, aye?" he asked.
"I'm with you, Findlay!" Lucia says.
As Findlay walks to the door, Lucia stops him with a tap on his shoulder.
"I wanted to also ask on something… That I noticed recently," she said.
"Go on," Findlay replies.
"Your accent seems to have… Degraded, not as strong as it was. Why?"
Findlay makes a short gentle laugh, before replying. "Working with the Ravens for a few years has made me accent die down, but certainly not how I speak."
"But, it don't mean me accent is really gone. Ya kni I can always come back ta it if ya ever wanna hear 'er," he adds.
"I would like that someday," she adds.
With that, the two exit out to buy gifts for the rest of their team.
Perhaps something is blooming amidst the two, who knows what is to come next?
Cover picture: (pixiv()net)/en/artworks/99113121