A/N: another extra. hope it's interesting
Disclaimer: I do not own Code Geass. I do own my characters.
Setting: Somewhere between Turn 14 and Turn 17. An open field serving as and Absolution training grounds.
Miya smiled cheerily as she pointed the pistol in her hands rigidly at the distant target. She let four shots go in quick succession, feeling the recoil of the gun as it fired, hearing its distinct sound. She then moved swiftlt to the target, ready to check her aim.
She sighed as she stared at the target. She was way off mark. She was a full fledge agent of Absolution now, but she still had a lot of work to do. She had to improve herself. She had to be at her best always. Missing the target in a real fight would be fatal. The battle over the prison had proved that much to her. She wasn't ready to die yet.
"You seem to be getting better," a very soft voice spoke. Miya looked over. Cynthia was standing there smiling by her own target.
"Yeah. But this is still my worst thing. I really have to keep practicing at it," said Miya with a rigid nod.
"That's the spirit. Work hard at it and your efforts will not be wasted," said Cynthia cheerily. It was then that Miya made the mistake of looking at the other's target.
"Looks like someone here doesn't require much effort at all," Miya commented dryly, frowning. Cynthia giggled.
"I have good eyes. I always have. You're faster than me and quite a bit bolder too, Miya," she spoke in an easy voice. "We're all good at different things."
"Yeah. Guess so," Miya said smirking again. "Still, at this job, if you aren't at least adequate at it all you end up dead."
Cynthia giggled again. "Yes. How true," she said, smiling. "But it's not like your aim is even that bad. I mean with a rifle you're hardly off my mark."
"Yeah, but that's so much easier to aim," said Miya, shaking her head and sighing.
"Well maybe I could help," said Cynthia with an eager smile.
"You think you can?" Miya tilted her head.
"Yup!" Cynthia said cheerfully before walking back to a safe shooting distance, the other following closely behind.
"Okay, so what do I have to do?" asked Miya curiously. Cynthia pulled out her hand gun.
"You hold it like this. You aim. Then you fire," the blonde said in a pleasant voice, demonstrating her ace marksmanship before the other's eyes, making it seem so entirely effortless. Miya tried her best to pay attention to the other's posture and technique.
"So like this?" Miya started, trying her best to imitate her friend's shot. To her dismay, Miya could see her shot fire hard to the right of Cynthia's which was well centered.
"Here, let me show you," Cynthia said before suddenly putting her arms around Miya. Miya blushed as Cynthia raised her gun into a proper position and adjusted her stance. "Now you just fire," she whispered into Miya's ear before pulling the trigger in unison with the other. The shot hit dead on.
"Incredible," said Miya. "But I wonder if I can do it on my own."
"Give it a try now," Cynthia suggested, pulling off and backing away.
"Sure," Miya said before readying her gun again. She did her best to remember Cynthia's hands and how they had guided her. She then pulled the trigger.
"See?! I think you're getting the hang of it," Cynthia nodded in approval. Miya looked. She was closer to the center but still off mark by a less than comfortable margin.
"I'm still not on your level," she said with a laugh. "But I wouldn't expect to be at this point. Thanks for the help!"
"Oh, it's hardly a trouble," Cynthia said with her trademark smile. "I don't want you to die out there."
"Well it means a lot. I'll have to help you out somehow now," Miya said with a rigid nod.
"That's not necessary. Your company is more than enough a payment for such things," the other responded.
"Okay." Miya smiled. She looked at the other. "This really doesn't suit either of us, does it?"
"You mean Absolution?" asked Cynthia.
"Yeah. I guess it's what we believe in. That's all there is to it, huh?" said Miya, smiling.
"Sometimes people will make surprising decisions. If they have the will, good can still come of them." Cynthia nodded firmly.
"Do your parents know you joined?" asked Miya in a low voice.
Cynthia's smile broke just momentarily as she looked at the other. Her eyes closed as she said in a low voice. "My parent situation isn't the most ideal."
"Oh… I'm sorry…" Miya spoke, feeling kind of stupid. "I really shouldn't have brought it up then."
"Oh, it's okay," Cynthia said smiling again. "I lost my mother years ago. Me and my father don't exactly see eye to eye."
"Oh. I see," Miya spoked. "I'm sorry to hear that."
"What about your family, Miya, if you don't mind me asking?" the blonde started in a soft voice.
"Well, I kinda hate to say it after hearing about your situation, but I get along great with both of my parents," Miya said evenly.
"No, no need to feel sorry for anything. I'm perfectly at terms with everything that's happened in my life," said Cynthia pleasantly.
"Well that's good to hear," Miya smiled enthusiastically.
"So your parents, did they accept your decision?" asked the blonde.
"Begrudgingly, yes," Miya said, recalling that day. "But in the end they ended up joining along with me."
"Wow. Really?" Cynthia tilted her head. "As financial backers?"
"Nope as Masks!" Miya said shaking her head.
"Miya! You're not supposed to tell me that! Any knowledge of their identities is supposed to be kept strictly under wraps. It's the first rule here," Cynthia started in disbelief.
"Oops. Guess I forgot," said Miya, scratching the back of her head and blushing.
"It's okay. I won't tell," Cynthia said with a sharp giggle. "I guess your parents must be pretty important then."
"Yup. They're both word renowned," Miya said with a firm nod.
"Hmmm… but for the life of me I can't think of any man of renown with the family name Ashford…" Cynthia said looking up. Miya began to laugh.
"Can't you now?" she said teasingly.
"No… Your father's must be a field not so visible," Cynthia deduced with a nod.
"I don't have a father," said Miya, smiling.
"You don't?!" Cynthia gasped. "But you gave me the impression that you had both--"
"I have two mothers," said Miya with a smile and a nod. Cynthia reacted with surprise that soon transformed into another smile.
"Really? That's awesome. You must be a beautiful family. I can't say I'm not jealous," Cynthia said, giving a high laugh.
"So it easier knowing my family name is that of a woman?" asked Miya with a sharp nod.
"Well the obvious answer would be that newswoman, but I wouldn't think…" Cynthia spoke after a moment's thought, her voice deliberate.
"Yep. That's my mom," said Miya with a laugh.
"You're kidding! She's so good at what she does. I watch her all the time," Cynthia said, smiling. "I can't believe she would join Absolution…"
"Yeah, well she's kind of protective of me. She's also even more spontaneous than I am. She was quick to jump on board after me," Miya said in a casual fashion.
"You know, I hadn't even heard that she was with another woman. I have to say I'm surprised," said the blonde, tilting her head.
"They're not hiding it or anything. It's very much out there. My other mom just likes to keep her privacy, so she does her best to make that clear to everyone and we manage to keep a low profile," Miya explained.
"I see. So what does your other mother do for a living?" asked Cynthia.
"Well currently she's a college professor. Twenty years ago she was a young genius of experimental physics," Miya said, giving a nod.
"Oh, well that's nice," said Cynthia, smiling gently. "I'd like to meet your parents someday."
"Cool. Sure thing," Miya said with a laugh. "I'd be more than happy to introduce you."
"Sounds like fun," the other nodded.
"Anyway, I think we better get back to the training. Were supposed to keep a strict schedule here," said Miya with a soft shrug.
"Yes. Quite right," said Cynthia.
With that, both girls went back to their target practice. Miya could tell her aim was just getting better. As she aimed and fired her gun she held in her heart the hope that she would never have to fire the weapon at another human.
A/N: Another, very quick, completely unsubstantial piece of fluff. Cynthia and Miya was an option that fared well in the poll so I decided to write it because it was easy enough to do a training scene. Also, these two haven't shown up at length for a while. When they do, they rarely are given a chance to get closer and are mostly fighting. I thought this a good excuse to show them bonding. Really I ended up writing this, because it came out of my brain when I was staring at the blank page quicker than a D.D., Amelia, or C.C. did… and it's still the shortest extra yet. Oh well, onto the next.