Noel: After Work
Noel Vermillion, Ragna's housemate, stopped by her and Ragna's house after her shift was done. She still worked for the NOL, having outlived her superior Major Jin Kisaragi in that regard. Lying on her bed, she gazed up at the ceiling and began talking to herself. "Maybe I should do some shopping… Or write something…" She started spacing out, wondering what to do now that she was off. Noel was zoned out for about an hour when she noticed the clock - it read 3:00PM. "Huh, Ragna should've come home by now. I wonder what he's doing." Getting out her cell phone, Noel dialed Ragna's number, listening to his phone ring two and a half times before picking up. "Nu, let me out of here! For God's sake, maybe I do need to destroy you!" A young girl's muffled laughter reached Noel's ear. "Oh, Ragna, why would I do that? We're going to be together… forever and ever…" "Dammit, Nu, get off me! No, don't sit there-" "Ragna, why do you have to talk so much? I've been gentle so far, but it appears you want it a little more rough. Okay, let's play!" Noel's expression turned to one of horror as she heard her housemate talking to a young girl they both knew - the cyborg Nu. Grabbing her twin guns, replacements for the Nox Nyctores Bolverk, the NOL lieutenant set off toward the little girl's house. When she got there, she rapped on the door officially and called, "This is Lieutenant Noel Vermillion of the NOL! Nu, open up!" She waited there for a few minutes with no response, then drew one gun and prepared to shoot the door off its hinges. At that moment Nu opened the door and glared up at her. "Noel, what do you want? I'm in the middle of something." Noel returned Nu's gaze and said, "I know Ragna's here. Where is he?" Nu put on an innocent face and shook her head, saying in a matching tone, "He's not here. I've been looking for him all day and just got home. Want me to help you find him?" The NOL officer walked forward into the house. "Then you won't mind if I check the premises. As an NOL officer, it's my duty to find any missing persons - even if I'm not on duty." "You don't have a warrant!" Nu cried, grabbing Noel's NOL uniform coat. "You can't just come into my house!" Noel pried Nu's hand off her coat and kept walking. "I have evidence that Ragna's here. I called his cell phone and heard both your voices." The young woman continued through the house, checking the kitchen, dining room, living room, and even the bathroom. When she reached the door to Nu's room, though, the little cyborg said in a serious tone, "If you go in there, I'll have to terminate you. You can't just walk into someone's room!" Noel turned and looked into Nu's eye sternly. "If you have nothing to hide, then you'll let me in there." Nu grabbed Noel's leg and whimpered, "I'll give you money if you don't go in there! Really! I'll give you a month's rent!" Noel shook the little girl off and sternly intoned, "Bribery will get you nowhere."
When Noel entered Nu's room, she gasped. The lights were off, the room lit by only candles. Ragna was sitting on Nu's bed, his arms and legs tied with steel cables and a cloth tied around his lower face to muffle his voice. He looked over at Noel and let out a muffled cry. "NU!" The NOL officer shouted as she ran over and began untying Ragna. "I'm so sorry, Ragna, I should've come to look for you sooner! Please forgive me!" She pulled the cloth off his face, letting him cough into the air. "Goddammit, Noel, where have you been? I've been stuck here for hours!" The girl was almost in tears as she finished unbinding Ragna's legs. When she climbed up behind him to untie his arms, she noticed something written on the back of his neck in permanent marker. It was the words Ragna and Nu forever and ever. Noel's face went a bright red as she saw the drawing. "Ragna… you're going to have to wash your neck REALLY well…" The famous swordsman growled, "I know already! That little bitch has fate coming toward her like a missile!" Noel finished untying Ragna, who got off the bed along with her. His white hair was a mess as he stormed out of the room. Nu was standing there, tears falling from her one visible eye. "Ragna, don't go! You know you liked it, Ragna!" The Bloodege placed a hand on Nu's head and snarled, "Never get close to me again! I'm seriously reconsidering the whole not destroying you thing!" The little cyborg fell back against the wall, sobbing. "Please don't hurt me, Ragna! I don't want you to hurt me again!" Noel's face showed a trace of indecision. "Umm, Ragna… I know it's not what you want to hear, but maybe she's learned her lesson this time. Think we could let her go?" Ragna glared at Nu before turning to Noel. "Yeah, I guess. This time." The two housemates left Nu's home in a hurry, leaving the young girl crying in the hall.
Ragna breathed in huge gulps of fresh air as he walked with Noel to their house. "Dammit, last time I ever stop myself from hurting that little bitch again. Who knows what would've happened if you didn't show up?" Noel took Ragna's arm, patting his hand comfortingly. "It's okay, Ragna. You're safe now. No more Nu to worry about." Reflexively he pulled his arm away from Noel, only afterwards realizing what he'd done. "S-Sorry…" "It's okay. Let's get home; I'll make meatloaf." Ragna flinched at the words. "You've had a long day. How about I make it, and you can relax with a warm bath or something." "Aww, how sweet of you! I think I'll take you up on that offer!" The two reached their home, walking inside. It was turning into a normal day again.