Slam, crash.
She remembered screaming, running.
And pain.
A lot of pain.
It was night.
There was shoving, and she was falling.
"Not so brave without your friend now, are you?"
She remembered scrambling away.
Scrape - raw, throbbing elbow.
Pain.
She remembered hitting the wall, then there was a moment of quiet, blissful silence. Blackness.
Sounds of panic, running.
Light.
"Get the hell away from her!"
She remembered strong arms.
A soft cotton shirt, a protective warmth.
Relief.
xxx
Takamachi Nanoha didn't want to wake up.
She mumbled something unintelligible, turning in bed to lie on her side, curled up into a ball. The bed was especially soft this day, warm and comfortable and oh so alluring. She snuggled into the pillows, cozy and content.
The satiny sheets were cool under her fingers, and she ran a sleepy hand over them, relishing in the feel. Smooth.
Wait. Nanoha stopped, something striking her as odd and out of place.
I don't have silk sheets.
Long lashes snapped open, and dazed blue eyes blinked rapidly.
What the hell?
Burgundy satin sheets?!
Nanoha didn't need further proof to know that she wasn't in her own bed.
"You're awake."
xxx
This Red Will One Day Wash Off
(I Just Hope You'll Still Be Here)
- Enraptured
.
& This Wasted Heart Will Love You (III)
xxx
Nanoha turned her neck so fast she swore she heard a crick.
Calm burgundy eyes gazed at her wordlessly.
"You!" Nanoha sputtered, scrambling away. Tangled in the sheets, she didn't get very far.
"What? Where? How?"
The blonde was sitting on a chair beside the large bed, gazing down at her coolly.
"Which question do you want me to answer first?" a quiet drawl, relaxed and amused.
How can she be so normal at a time like this?!
"Where am I?" Nanoha finally settled on asking, deciding that it was the most important question.
"You're in my house, in my room, and in my bed," the blonde informed casually, as if she did this all the time.
Was that irritation in her voice?
"What the hell am I doing in your bed?!" Nanoha almost shrieked, hands instinctively going to her chest.
Rough fabric met panicked fingers, and Nanoha sighed in relief. Her uniform was still intact.
But of course, mirthful red eyes scorned. What did you expect?
"You don't remember?"
Nanoha closed her eyes warily, and distorted visions of her dream came flooding back to her.
Only that it wasn't a dream.
Her eyes flew open, and she turned her arm to look at her right elbow.
There was a raw, angry scrape.
"The attack…" Nanoha trailed off, rubbing the bridge of her nose as her head throbbed.
The blonde nodded, leaning back in her chair and balancing on its hind two legs.
"You passed out at about the time I came, and I didn't know where you stayed so I brought you here," she explained matter-of-factly.
Nanoha pressed back into the sheets, welcoming its cool comfort. She covered her face with a pillow, trying to remember.
She only just realized that there was a gentle throbbing ache all over, and she was sure that there would be bruises if she checked.
The same group of bullies from the other night, looking for payback. And they had given it, hard.
She groaned.
Why do these things keep happening to me?
"Thank you," she finally mumbled, peeking up at the blonde from under her pillow. Nanoha looked away then, a small blush staining her cheeks.
It wasn't the first time the blonde had saved her.
The brunette stayed like this for a while longer, determinedly ignoring the fact that this wasn't her bed, and that she should really have been going.
"What time is it?" she asked vaguely, just to break the silence.
"Slightly after eleven," the blonde replied in a monotone.
Shit!
Nanoha bolted upright, causing the blonde to almost tip her chair over in surprise.
"School!" Nanoha cried an explanation, blue eyes darting about in panic. She was halfway out of bed when the blonde spoke.
"It's Saturday."
Nanoha blinked.
"Oh."
Her shoulders sagged in relief.
"You should call your parents before they get worried."
"It's okay, they're used to me staying over," Nanoha looked around the room for the first time since she woke.
"…Wow."
The room was large and elegantly furnished. Abstract paintings Nanoha didn't understand adorned one wall, and a sleek, slim stereo was lined against another. Precariously high stacks of discs sat next to it. Nanoha didn't need a second glance to tell that the entire set was extremely expensive, to say the least.
It was simple yet sophisticated, decorated in mostly the dark colors of red and black. There wasn't much, no soft toys or ornaments or even pictures in the entire room.
Nanoha rather liked it anyway. It suited the blonde's mysteriousness, her quiet elegance and style.
There was a pile of blankets and a beat-up pillow at the corner.
"Do you have a dog?" Nanoha asked, still trying to start a conversation.
"Yes."
"Where is it?"
"In the other room."
"Why?"
"Didn't know if you were allergic."
"Oh."
"And she bites."
"…Oh."
Nanoha smiled politely, then turned around and sighed.
What an exciting conversation.
Huge, tinted, floor-to-ceiling windows lined the entire of another wall, keeping out most of the light yet providing a view. Maroon curtains were half-drawn, and Nanoha crossed over to look out of the glass.
She gasped.
The view was breathtaking.
"A penthouse?" She inquired, raising her eyebrows at the blonde who was still perched in her chair. She could tell they were really high up, and she knew that the view would be spectacular at night.
"Nice room," Nanoha tried again.
No reply.
The blonde raised a hand to brush back a stray lock of hair, and Nanoha caught sight of a flash of red.
"What's that?"
Burgundy eyes flickered to what Nanoha was looking at, before the arm was quickly lowered and hidden smoothly from view.
"Nothing."
Nanoha crossed over to the chair in a few quick strides, grabbing the girl's hand and holding it up. To her horror, a large, deep gash had marred otherwise perfect skin, and Nanoha instantly felt a pang of guilt.
"It's just a scratch," the blonde said easily, pulling her arm back.
"Right."
Sarcasm.
Nanoha didn't let go.
She remembered the flash of a sharp, silver dagger and immediately felt nauseous.
"It's old," the other girl lied lamely.
"It's bleeding!" Nanoha cried. "You better get this cleaned up before it gets worse."
The blonde wrenched her arm away, forcefully this time.
"I'm fine."
A cold, chilling tone that revoked no argument.
The brunette hissed in frustration.
Nanoha stalked over to the bathroom, before stopping and staring around warily. It was a huge bathroom, with black marble tiles and a large mirror covering one side of the wall. Spotless surfaces gleamed from beneath a muted yellow glow, throwing the room in dim light.
She hesitated, before reaching out to pull open the doors of the cabinet beneath the sink. She knew it was highly unethical to be rummaging through someone else's things, but desperate times called for desperate measures.
Not like this is a very desperate time, a sarcastic voice whispered in Nanoha's head, and she pushed it away guiltily.
For its size, the cabinet was surprisingly empty. Heck, there was nothing in it but a few unused tubes of toothpaste and a couple of new toilet rolls. That was it.
She closed the cabinet and turned around, exasperated, only to find a smirking blonde leaning against the doorframe, arms folded.
"I don't keep any bandages, if that's what you were searching for."
Nanoha wanted nothing more than to wipe that smug look off her face.
She settled for checking the glass ridge lining the wall outside the shower. A bottle of shampoo and a box of air freshener; as sparse as ever.
Nanoha growled.
And went next to the shelves built into the wall behind the door.
The infuriating blonde continued to watch her quietly, that annoying little half-smile still on her face. She looked supremely unconcerned at Nanoha's invasion of her privacy, choosing instead to observe without a word.
Two futile minutes later and Nanoha was forced to give up, concluding with annoyance that there was indeed, no sign of any bandages. Hell, there weren't even traces of any medical supplies. The bathroom was nearly empty despite its size, with nothing but the absolute essentials.
"Why don't you have any bandages?" she demanded, turning around to glare at her not so gracious host.
"Don't need them," came the simple reply.
The blonde was absently rubbing her wound, either not realizing or caring that she was causing the gash to reopen. Dark blood trickled down fair skin, the stark contrast sending shivers down Nanoha's spine.
"Stop that," Nanoha snapped, crossing over to grab the other girl's hand, stilling it mid-action. "You'll infect the wound."
The taller girl blinked and said nothing.
Nanoha sighed and rubbed her temples.
Why was that stupid blonde being so difficult?
And why, was she even bothering to help?
The brunette dropped the blonde's hand, brushing past her back into the bedroom. She ignored the jolt of electricity of bare skin on skin.
"If you're done with your ahh, inspection, the door is that way."
Her mocking tone wasn't lost on Nanoha, and she narrowed her eyes.
What is up with that girl?!
Nanoha wanted to leave as soon as she could, but she remembered her manners. After all, she still was a guest, and the blonde had saved her. She started to make the bed.
"That isn't necessary."
She ignored that voice, folding the sheets deftly and neatly. Fluffing the pillows, she arranged them at the head before stepping back and observing her work critically.
She couldn't even tell that the bed had been slept on.
Satisfied, Nanoha grabbed her bag from the floor, pausing only to check her reflection in the mirror for a fleeting second.
"I'll see myself out, then."
She left the room and crossed the hall, making a beeline for the entrance. Nanoha looked determinedly straight, face not betraying any emotion.
She hoped the blonde couldn't tell that she was considerably impressed by the sheer size of the house and the tasteful décor. Or that she was rather curious as to why most of the doors in the house were closed.
She vowed to never come back again.
Nanoha stopped at the door, pausing a moment before unlocking it and slipping out of the house.
The blonde didn't follow.
xxx
Nanoha pounded on the door for what seemed like the billionth time, tapping her feet impatiently. She jabbed the doorbell again, hearing the quiet chime of the bell reverberating throughout the house.
"Come on, damn it," she hissed to herself.
She could hear the doorbell from through the heavy oak door, there was no reason for the blonde not to hear it too. Besides, it had only been half an hour since she left, the girl couldn't have went out, could she?
She raised her fist to hammer on the door again
And stopped mid-bang when the door finally swung open.
"What?" a very angry and disgruntled blonde snapped, a cross between a growl and a snarl.
She ran a hand through her tousled golden locks, looking as though she wanted nothing more than to wring Nanoha's neck.
The brunette quailed at the murderous look she was receiving. She averted her eyes, and blushed when she saw that the blonde was dressed in nothing but an oversized shirt that covered just enough.
"Can I come in?" She asked hesitantly, suddenly thinking that this was a very bad idea.
"No," the blonde said flatly, promptly slamming the door shut in Nanoha's face.
What the hell?
Nanoha punched the doorbell again.
The door was flung open, and the blonde didn't even attempt to conceal her annoyance this time.
"What the hell do you want, Takamachi?"
Nanoha didn't bother to answer, she just ducked under the blonde's arm and entered the house.
So much for never coming back here again.
The blinds were drawn, casting the interior of the house in shade. It was cool and dim, and Nanoha registered the faint sound of music coming from somewhere in the house.
Is that classical music?
The door clicked shut quietly.
Apparently the blonde had decided that arguing with her would be a waste of time. She ignored Nanoha completely, padding silently back into her room.
Nanoha followed.
The bed that Nanoha had previously made had obviously been slept in again, with rumpled blankets and messy pillows. The blonde stumbled up to it and collapsed headfirst into the cool sheets.
"Why are you sleeping in the middle of the day?" Nanoha wondered aloud.
The other girl looked up from her pillow and shot Nanoha a sour look.
Because I was up all night watching you sleep.
Because I was on the streets fighting your battle.
Because you were in my bed and I couldn't leave you all alone.
The blonde didn't have to say a word; she expressed it all in her burgundy eyes.
"Ahh," Nanoha looked away, embarrassed. Another pang of guilt struck her.
That explained her cheerful disposition.
The girl's head fell back into the pillows, and she mumbled something incoherent.
Nanoha crossed over to the bed, sitting gingerly at the side and watching her quietly.
"I brought you something," she whispered softly, pulling out a fresh roll of bandages she had just bought.
"Don't… want," the blonde muttered, voice muffled by the pillow. She scooted away from Nanoha, hiding her injured arm under the sheets.
The brunette couldn't help but smile.
Reaching under the blanket, Nanoha carefully withdrew the blonde's arm, scowling when she saw that that the wound had yet to be cleaned.
"Hey, sit up a little," Nanoha coaxed.
"Mmph," the sleepy blonde grunted, trying to pull her arm back.
Nanoha tightened her grip, shaking the hand gently until its owner sat up, rubbing her eyes groggily with her other hand.
Bleary red eyes looked at slate blue.
Nanoha sighed. Obviously her host wouldn't want to walk to the bathroom.
Hopping off the bed, Nanoha made her way to the sink. She couldn't find a basin, so she filled a large cup with warm water. Grabbing the dry towel hanging by a hook behind the door, Nanoha went back to sit next to the blonde.
"This may sting a bit," Nanoha warned, dipping the edge of the towel into the warm water and brushing it gently over fair skin. The blonde didn't even flinch.
As quickly and thoroughly as she could, Nanoha cleaned the wound, making sure that she was applying little pressure. She didn't want to cause the blonde any more pain.
When she was done, the towel and cup were placed aside in favor of the newly-bought bandages.
The blonde was silent as Nanoha wrapped the white bindings over her freshly-cleaned wound, pulling tightly yet gently to ensure that it was secure. She sat, still as a statue save her regular breathing.
It was oddly… peaceful.
Nanoha patted the girl's arm to show that she was done. Strangely, she didn't feel like moving. The blonde emitted a natural warmth that she found comforting, and it was all Nanoha could do to not snuggle beside her.
She allowed herself a few seconds of indulgence, before she forced herself to stand.
"Um, I brought a few basic medical supplies since you didn't have any," Nanoha began shyly, shuffling her feet awkwardly. "I'll just put them here then."
She placed the bag of things she had bought on the bedside table. She honestly didn't know what to get, so she had settled with a little of everything. Hopefully, it was enough.
"You go ahead and rest, I'll see myself out," Nanoha spoke, mostly to herself, since the blonde was still not replying.
As quietly as she could, the brunette made her way out of the room, closing the door quietly behind her.
She hadn't walked more than a few steps before the door opened again and the tall blonde stumbled out.
They looked awkwardly at each other for a moment.
The blonde started walking towards the main entrance, and Nanoha followed silently.
The taller girl pulled open the door, stepping aside to let Nanoha pass. She smiled, a dashing smile that took Nanoha's breath away.
It didn't quite reach her eyes, but it was still beautiful to look at.
Outside the door, Nanoha stopped. She turned around.
"Um, thank you so much for everything, Testarossa-san," she whispered, bowing. "I'm sorry for causing you trouble."
The other girl blinked, then inclined her head slightly.
"Fate."
"Huh?" Nanoha didn't quite understand.
"Fate Testarossa," the blonde smiled. "And you're welcome. Take care, Takamachi-san."
The door closed shut, leaving a very confused Nanoha standing outside.
A wide, ridiculously large grin spread itself very slowly over the brunette's face.
Fate.
She couldn't explain why she felt so deliriously happy.
Fate.
Fate.
End Part Three.
A/N: Wow, this is officially the chapter that I rushed out in record time. :D See? I told you reviews work wonders. xD (Now who owed me that cookie?)
And this is for Kasu-chan, whose finals start tomorrow. GOOD LUCK. :D
Anyway, an explanation for the sudden jump between chapt 2 and 3. I'm sorry if it's rushed (and shorter than usual), this was originally meant to be part 4, but I felt that it'd be too draggy if I wrote another schoolday and then end with a climatic fight scene. Besides, I was lazy, what else is new :P
This chapter was incredibly fun to write though. I'm as clueless as anyone else as to where this story is heading. I fail at plotting.
Reviews? :D -pokes. And thanks again for sticking with me!