Reason to Live II
Chapter 4: The Ones we Love
(Triela's P.O.V)
-RRRRIIIIIINNNNNGGGG-
Goddamn it what time is it…?
-RRRRIIIIINNNNNNGGGG-
Let me sleep a little longer…
-RRRRIIIIIINNNNNNGGGG-
"…Claes…shut that God-forsaken alarm now…"
February 14th,
Social Welfare Agency,
0600 hrs
It's the early morning of February 14th; Valentine's Day! I've talked to the boy Frederick has been calling 'Yank' since and have gotten to know more about him. Edward Burns. That's his name. It has been one month since he has entered service, and has proven to us how he performs in the field. I must say he has a close resemblance on tastes of weapon to Frederick. Both of them are rather picky on weapons. Frederick would prefer German manufactured fire arms; especially those classic ones. Edward, prefers American manufactured fire arms; especially those with .45 caliber rounds.
"Ergh…what date is today…?"
"It's the 14th of February Triela. Didn't you mention that you have a date with a 'special someone' today?"
"Scheiße! Almost forgot! Thanks Claes! Happy Birthday by the way…"
"Hey, thanks. You remembered…" She pauses for a moment as I get myself ready "Good thing I woke you up this morning, right?"
"Yeah," I answer "Almost overslept back there…"
The knock on the door a few minutes later marks the start of my day. When I opened the door, there stood a knight in shining armor; my knight in shining armor. He stood there smiling with a bouquet of flower and a box chocolate cradled in his arms. I, myself is stunned on how well he's dressed with his usual outfit. Long, olive drab trench coat, his usual long pants tucked to his shiny German Military Boots. His shirt looks just like it has been laundered and pressed, giving a sharp, straight impression. His collar straightened, but not buttoned.
And his appearance…well, his appearance is…uh…
"Stunning?" he asks grinning as usual
That's the word; stunning. His short dark brown hair is let loose as usual. His face is bright, with his common 1000 watt smile plastered on his face. And his blue eyes are full of hopes. And I am made speechless. All I could do is nod once in agreement while trying so hard to hide my face from him to notice how flattered I am right now
"Y-y-you're r-ready?" I ask hesitantly (still hiding my face) as he places the flower bouquet and his chocolate box in my bed. Claes herself is stunned on how, when, and where did he get that many stuff
"Ready?" smiling gleefully like an over-confidence child he was, he slightly reveals what's beneath his trench coat he loves so much and sure enough, there I found two of his Red 9 Variants, dangling in each of its holster along with three or four extra stripper clips. He's always carrying those around when he's ready to go somewhere. "Do I look ready to you?"
Gleefully, this time I answer without hiding my face "Ready as always."
"Great! Then you might want this…" A pair of tickets were shown; movie tickets! "So, shall we?"
(Edward's P.O.V)
February 14th,
Social Welfare Agency,
0610 hrs
"Well uh…so…umm…."
Damn it, this is harder than I thought…
"Well…you know…uh…"
C'mon! Why can't I just say it! Say it! It's simple! Just…say it!
"Uh…will…will…erhm…"
Damn, how did Frederick did it…?
"You want me to be your…valentine?"
No actions, no special or unique freak show, and no gifts. All there is to it is effort. A month has it been since I join the SWA as one of the government's assassin, and a month since I've seen interest to this red headed Russian-born teenager. Petrushka…that's a beautiful name… a name that fits for the girl who's facing me with her green emerald eyes. She's under conditioning, I know she is; all the girls are under conditioning. That goes for Triela too...
…but deep inside, I know there are those things human can't erase
Our head is like a data bank, I say so myself. Even though you forget or memory's over written, one day, it just need one specific object or event that will make you recall everything…everything. That goes for feelings too. Though conditioning processes has caused the girls to be extremely loyal to their handler, their true feelings will emerge one day; unstoppable by the conditioning.
"Yeah…I would love to, Edward." She answer with a slight blush forming in her face
…And this is one of the times.
"Happy Valentine's day" is my answer to her, followed with a kiss to her subtle lips
(Frederick's P.O.V)
I don't recall how long has it been since Yankee been part of our team of junior Assassins. Yeah, I have to admit that he's getting better and better each day with the obstacle courses and the shooting ranges. Yeah, I have to admit he has an excellent determination to listen all the random and what I think as unnecessary rambles from his handler. And hell yeah I have to admit his field performance almost outclass me by one score!
After the end of our mission involving Warehouse no. 50, the handlers of Section 2 is quite pleased with Edward's first field operations. I gave him a much good comment…, maybe a little too well for his overall field operations. Soon enough, I was basically paired up with Yankee-boy most of the time! And I swear, if those handlers didn't pair me with Triela the other day, I would've gone on a strike! That's right; we worked so well in close-confined spaces that they decided to pair both of us when it comes to assaulting buildings or structures in room to room combat. I was specialized on that, and so was he…
January 21st,
Social Welfare Agency, Firing Range,
0800 hrs
It started out in the last day of January. We have been paired up for quite some time that we eventually have been used to calling each other with silly names. Those names, eventually, became our nicks in the field. Only I can call him Yank or Yankee, and only he can call me Kraut. Don't get me wrong, we're nothing like that. When it comes to nicknames and all, Triela and I have plenty of those and have been using those when we flirt with each other. And that is quite often.
"Listen here, Yank…"
Then there was the time when I taught him techniques I developed myself over the course of my duty, and the years where I went absent and hold my grounds on my own. I don't know why I even had the idea on teaching him these techniques I've mastered, but what I was thinking is how useful this will be. Heck like I care if I got outscored back then. I only want to work with Triela and Hillshire again after so long being coped up with him like postcards and stamps. I just wish he'd be assigned alone just how Henrietta, Petrushka, and Angelica work. Triela and I both could work alone, but we were most commonly paired up due to the fact that I lost my handler, and Hillshire happens to be my supervisor. Adding on that part, Hillshire is Triela's handler. Yeah, this is getting off-track when I start talking about Triela and I. Anyways, I begun teaching him on the last day of January in the thought of getting rid of him to become my permanent partner.
…What I never thought about is if he ever turns and uses these techniques against me…
"Grenades are explosive objects; use to take out a medium to huge number of crowds in one strike." Starting my lecture, I pick up a M67 Fragmentation grenade and begun tossing them around "The way to use it is to…"
"Pull the pin, 'cook' it and throw, or throw it immediately."
"Very good Yank" I compliment lightly for his extensive knowledge "You did your research."
"Everyone knows that, Kraut." I heard that, but I decided to ignore it and continue
"Anyways, today's lesson is about grenades and how to use it…controversially." I turn to the range and pull the pin "Watch"
The grenade flew from my hand a minute later, flying through the sky like tomatoes tossed away. I can see Edward has been losing interest by now, thinking that this will be the only thing I'll show him. But NO! This isn't the end! With a little creativity and imagination, accompanied with some practice and quick reactions, the grenade can become a deadly, compact anti-infantry rocket. A quick draw, a short aim, and a quick trigger finger is all that is left as I aim the grenade with my typical 'Broom Handle' and fires the 9mm round towards the falling green object, obliterating it in midair which destroys the practice targets below.
"And that, Yank" I stated "Is the proper way to use a grenade."
"I'll refer it to an 'improper' way to use the grenade. But still, it'll be useful one way or the other."
His reactions never change through the course of my specially designed courses. The end reaction is always 'improper', a 'waste of ammunition', or 'that's it' kind of way. But, he practices them anyway and uses them in the next field operation which, ironically, I was paired up with Uncle Sam once more. Then there comes the time when I taught him about dual wielding a weapon. I showed him what I can do with the MP40s, and then it's up to him with his newly acquired M3 'Grease Gun'. Again, those guns fire the typical .45 ACP rounds his entire weapon uses. Sadly, however, that day he was distracted with someone else…
"Hey, Kraut…" is what he usually start to draw my attention away from the Princess who's practicing a few feet away from me "Who's that red-head?"
"Her?" I point out bluntly "She's Petrushka. Didn't know too much about her, but she's a nice girl. Why? You finally taken notice to one of the girls here?"
"You can say that…"
"Anyone's fine besides Triela. She's…"
"Yours" he interrupts "I know. You've mentioned that almost 10 times this month when you guys took a walk."
"It's because you kept on tailing us for God's sake! Can you keep privacy private?"
"Sure I can…"
"Well good for you. Anyways, I suppose you should know about Alessandro. He's her handler; you might want to talk to him for information."
Alessandro didn't really mind about Edward's actions and his moves on Petrushka; so does Sylvia. Sylvia views it as something a growing teenager would experience and would do, so it is good to have a little preparation in life. But for Alessandro…it has became a problem after his next two missions where he ended up getting slapped by Petrushka the moment he tries to put another one of his 'perverted' moves on her. Well, I can say that it does leave a huge red mark on his left cheek for a couple of days…
The next days or so, I found myself watching over him talking to Petrushka. I'm not alone in this one as Triela is over on Petrushka's side giving good compliments to Yank and all while I'm on Edward's side helping him sort some things out and finding proper words and compliments. He did most of the work, and all effort was his. What we did was only guiding them so they can be together. Alessandro dislikes it for a moment like a jealous boyfriend who found his girlfriend is cheating on him, but what can he do? I start to wonder on how he's able to become a handler…that pervert.
My mission records on him were…eh….unique, so to say. I've been on operations with him and Petrushka and oh, boy! How sick it is to see that man molesting her here and there and teaching her how to smoke cigarettes! I kept on saying to myself 'hey, hey what's the meaning of this!?' sort of question when I witness Petrushka smokes over a cigarette with Alessandro standing there watching gleefully as he too, smokes. Guess what? Alessandro taught her these vile actions. Guess that ends after Edward came to play.
February 14th,
Campo de' Fiori,
0700 hrs
Since the movie starts at around one in the afternoon, I decided to take Triela for a walk around the old district of Rome; precisely the Campe de' Fiori. Though the name literally means 'Field of Flowers', there are no fields in sight. Rather, this is a shopping area; a market, so to say. The area opens every morning except on Sundays. On top of it all, I take her here for an apparent reason: flowers. The name 'Field of Flowers' isn't just for show here. Flowers here are abundant! It is a very common sight in this market and comes in many shapes, colors, and sizes. Triela is near speechless…
"Frederick…" she said as she observes the rows of stalls decorating the market "…I don't know what I should say…"
"Rather than thinking about it, might as well take a look around and think of what you'll buy, right?"
"But the…"
"I've been saving for this." I answer chuckling "Shall we?"
She pauses and smiles as red circles starts forming around her cheek. Nodding, she answers the question silently while slowly taking my left arm. Then casually, we walk into the market. Hillshire makes a call, but we deliberately ignore him. Not caring about anything or whatever's our identities are, we step together into the market, creating a moment for us to cherish.
Happy Valentine's Day, Triela…
February 15th,
Social Welfare Agency,
1223 hrs
"So how's your yesterday, Kraut?" ask Edward the next afternoon during our exercises
The next day, we return to our daily routines as Government Assassins. Hillshire gave both Triela and I quite a lecture last night after we made him wait for hours and hours while we go along and stroll in our date without any communications. 'It's natural for him to worry something this simple' she says so after the lecture. 'If he didn't go and worry something this simple, then there is something wrong.'
"It starts fine, and ends magnificent! How's yours Yank?"
Hillshire has been a fatherly figure for Triela, and I can assume Hillshire treats Triela like what a father would treat his daughter; unlike other handlers in the area where they treated their Junior Operatives like a 'tool for the job', or a 'replacement sibling'. You know who I'm talking about.
"Well…can say it started magnificent, and ended magnificent!"
"So what did you guys do?" I ask curiously while checking the chamber of my StG 44 Assault Rifle; cleaning it in the process "Spent the rest of the day in the agency?"
"Well yeah, pretty much…"
"What exactly did you guys do?" this time, I ask him with a rather demanding tone "You guys…didn't do anything too far did you?"
Then there's silence…a total silence between us except the echoing fire from an SVD Dragunov fired by a 13 year old French two 20 feet away from me
"Wait…you're telling me you haven't had 'it' with your girl?" It was the next few moments that I notice what he meant
"You HAVE!?"
"NOPE!" he replies "What are you thinking Kraut? I just took her to a nearby Ice Cream Café two blocks away from the Agency! Pervert…" …and it was also the next few moments that I notice I've been played by him; out of all people, him. Ol' Uncle Sam…
We spent the rest of our day in the firing range, sharpening Yank's skill on Dual Wielding Sub-machineguns. His .45 caliber weapon makes scary recoil when handled; dual wielding it is really out of the question. It's really amazing to see how he pulled it off however. The MP40 I dual wield chambers a 30 rounds of 9mm Parabellum rounds which is deadly at close to medium ranges if fired simultaneously at a target (one to two shots is enough to take one down. However, Edward's .45 ACP rounds are deadly at all ranges. One shot is enough to take someone out-cold or make a mess out of a wound. The way he handles two M3 'Grease Gun' that hosts .45 caliber rounds is really credited to our mechanical body. Otherwise, he'll be seeing the doctor soon for a case of fractured arm.
Am I doing the right thing? I mean, teaching someone who would be my nemesis without me knowing it. The memories buried deep due to the conditioning and brain washing process he went through could be awaken any moment by some random event that could pop up anywhere around me. I was afraid I was doing the wrong thing, but then again…
…if he didn't remember, he makes a good friend
After a month or-so knowing him, I get used to him. He really isn't such a bad guy like what I used to think he is. Sure, he can be an arrogant, blonde haired, smart-assed Yankee who thinks he knows about everything that's going on around. But during missions, he is one reliable fellow and an all round nice guy. His close-quarters engagement on targets, his discipline on his handler, and his determination is enough to send him alone right over to Milan with a sign in his back saying 'PADANIAS, YOUR DAYS ARE NUMBERED'
…make that one LARGE sign; a billboard if necessary.
Yeah…Edward has eventually become a close friend of mine. A close friend who would kill me the next moment I knew. He has become a proficient killer, a deadly assassin, and a good friend. Now what am I supposed to do if he ever turns against me? Killing him would be one, tough, and difficult action to do. I can say, friends comes rarely living in the Agency. Triela said that seeing same old faces and same old daily routines all day can get boring even though I found it amusing. The only person who seems to enjoy life here in the Agency is only Rico. And that's because she was granted arms and legs which gives her freedom to move. She has birth-defects, the SWA rescues her, and she's thankful for that. Then again, seeing new faces around the Agency is one of the most entertaining things you could ever found around here. I remember the arrival of two new operatives one day. What're they're names again…? Ah, yes!
…Carol and Terra. That's their names!
Carol is an Infiltrator, a spy designed by the Agency. Her weapon is the most odd of us all: A Katana. Never in my life have I ever had the thought of a handler issuing a melee weapon to an operative. But Carol is the proof. I remember much about her. I knew her during the day when the Agency is under attack by Padanias, back when I was fighting against Giorgio and his goons. Carol is one of the operative who clears the firing range I usually dwell in during my free time. Through my observations, I notice her conditioning is slightly below minimum.
Terra on the other hand is designed as an Anti-Tank and Bunker Buster operative. I don't know what the agency had in mind when they created her, but once she' sent on a mission, I always heard good remarks and comments about her from Koch after each missions. During the attack on the SWA headquarters, I heard explosions around the garage area. Not from mines set up by Giorgio's goons, but something much more powerful: RPG-16. The next day after the attack, we find the remains of a Victim from Terra's RPG-16.
After Koch's funeral, they were sent somewhere on a mission and were never heard from again. A few days later, I notice two handlers went missing; both were Carol and Terra's. At that point, I knew what was going on. They were Killed in Action; K.I.A. Those are the two I remember most. There were other handlers and operatives in the vicinity sent on various missions each day. But I won't talk about them right now.
"Say, Kraut…"
"Yeah?"
"Thanks man." He said in a distinctive American accent mixed into his Italian "You've become someone I can rely on. I couldn't have done these without your help."
…Did I just hear those words from him?
"No problem. I'm just trying to be a friend; that's all Yank."
"Well you've become one of my closest aides. Thanks again."
The rest of the afternoon I started to ponder my actions in the past. He's a nice guy, I admit that. Then again, if it weren't because of me he wouldn't be here as a Government Assassin, equipped with a mechanical body that I think is much more useful to those people who lost their arms or legs. Well…we are those people anyway. A slight relief came into my mind when I thought about Edward's remarks earlier. If I have become someone he can trust on, then maybe he won't kill me if he remembers his past…maybe. That's just maybe. Part of me is saying not to get too close to him anymore to prevent anymore distraction if the worse case scenario ever occurred. But part of me wants to keep it the way as it is since nothing has been wrong. The thought of him killing me the next thing after he remembers his past haunted me for hours and hours. Basically, I'm on the verge of being unable to think about the worst case scenario! IF he ever turns against me, what am I supposed to do? Talk to him? Hell yeah he would listen! He'd blast my head off even before I get close to 2 feet away! What is he to me? He's both hostile AND friendly at the same time! My head is full of questions I can't even answer myself! Why am I thinking such things in the first place? Hell, if I describe Edward right now, I can say that he's a friend. But on the other hand, he's a sleeping Devil, waiting to be awakened.
The knock on my door soon ended my misleading thoughts and confusion. The handle turns, and the door swung open and there stands a blonde with a well tanned skin, dressed up as though ready for work. Her shirt is straightened, and her neck tie is fixed. Her long pants were fit right, and her leather shoes were shined. Her usual dark trench coat tops all her garments. Her long hair is tied into two pigtails which decorated her perfectly.
"Triela…" I said to her as I close in and plays on her hair "You look marvelous…"
"W-w-what?" she answers lagging, fingers fidgeting "T-this is m-m-my usual. W-what's so special about it?"
I smile and kiss her on the forehead "You're special. That's what makes it special."
"T-thanks." She answers timidly as I notice red circles forming around her cheek "W-w-well I was here to g-g-get you for uh…dinner. W-we're not eating in the Cafeteria today, but in an n-nearby pasta shop."
"Really?"
"W-well…I f-figured that I think I owe you a lot for yesterday so…I was thinking on r-repaying it today. Hillshire has booked in a t-table for our d-"
"Date?" I answer chuckling
"DINNER! That's the word." Though, I knew she meant to say 'date' "Well…uh…I-I'll wait for you at the parking lot. Hillshire will take us there."
As she hides her face and decided to dash towards her next destination, I notice a very distinctive smell left from her: perfume. It smells sweet, and left a soft scent.
"Triela!"
"J-ja?"
"Sie riechen groß heute Abend. Parfüm? (You smell great tonight, perfume?)" It's been quite a long time since I use my native language; both of us originated from Germany, she should understand
"D-dank! Es ist Henrietta. Sie hat es für die Nacht geliehen... (T-thanks! I-it's Henrietta's. She lent it for tonight)"
"Wirklich? Das ändert meine Gedanken um Sie aber nicht! (Really? That doesn't change my thoughts about you however)"
"Gehen Sie nur und bereiten Sie sich vor! Ich werde warten… (Just go and prepare yourself! I'll be waiting…)" With that, she hurried but sheepishly left me. I'm a man with many words…all thanks to Claes' Romance Novels I found once in a while!
As I left to change, I had begun smiling to myself after seeing her like that. Triela has become the most important person to me ever since Koch died and left me alone to work with the Agency. Her existence isn't just as a mere friend or aid, but as someone who have carved memories in my heart. She's the person I'm willing to die for. The only person I'm willing to risk my life to the fullest. She has become a part of me that I can't and I will never let go.
Taking a deep breath and a sigh, I let out a little chuckle as I put on my usual Olive Drab trench coat and stuff two of my 'Broom Handles' into the holsters hidden under it.
…best not keep a girl waiting, right?
Author's Note:
WOOOT! Chapter 4 finished! And I still got 7 more chapters to complete after this before the due date of the Project!! NOOO!!! Anyways, thank you credit and referencing will fall on Colonel Marksman's two OC introduced here. Noticed them, right Colonel? Uh…I don't know what else to say, but leave a feedback of the fic! That's all I'm saying. I need them for the project I'm trying to finish along with this fanfic so…Read and Review? Leaving a review here would really help my on this project, and I can't thank you enough! That's all I'm saying… (I will still need to publish this work on light novel format. Future editing are all thanks to Yoshio-san and Boomer-san. Arigatou for the BIG help! Kanpaii!!)