I don't own DA or its characters, only the ones I have created.
Please be nice this is a story that has been in my head for YEARS and I finally decided to type up part of it.
Background: The hostage situation at Jam Pony never happened; Sketchy though knows that Max and Alec are transgenics. Still Max and Alec are helping out at TC with supplies and such, Alec is 25 and Max 24. Kris is 17
Ohh and max/alec romance will not be shown till later though they are friends now and also you see small gestures of romance! Enjoy
473 entered the training room with a determined face on, she was a soldier on a mission, normally she would never enter the room, she was out of place here, too young compared to the rest, even if she could kick ass there asses she thought, mentally smacking herself for using that word, last time she did that he had given her a lecture on the use of the word, even though he used it daily.
Right the mission, she thought she looked around for the tall, brownish brown haired transgenic, ignoring all the shocked and confused stares she was receiving from the others, jeez didn't they know it was impolite to stare?
She spotted him in the back on the bars doing pull-ups. She picked up her pace until she was in front of him. Once he saw her he stopped and stood in front of her.
She stood at attention knowing that he was a superior and even though he didn't expect her to do so she knew that she didn't want anyone to report her for not showing respect.
"Sir? Permission to speak?" she quietly asked wanting to just get out of this room that was making her uncomfortable, she was use to being in here when it was just about empty.
He looked at her wondering what she was doing and seeing that the others were looking at him, oh so that's why she was acting the part of the perfect little soldier, so replying to her he said, " Permission Granted."
She wasted no time but couldn't ask what she wanted to with so many people around, they wouldn't understand. "Sir Can we go into a private area?" He responded with a nod.
473 followed 494 into room across from the training room; it was a classroom for Common Verbal Use which was currently empty. She took a deep breath telling herself not to be nervous it was just a question after all, I mean how bad could it be right?
He looked at her puzzled; she never came or saw him unless it was for their lessons, or ordered by the director. Especially if it meant walking into a room with other X-5's, she wasn't exactly the social type. It wasn't that he minded, no he was glad in the past couple months, he had grown attached to the little girl, even though she was feisty and kept to herself.
"Go ahead squirt spit it out, ask what you want" He said before she could start, he saw the curiosity in her eyes before she could ask her question. God knows he hasn't been around her long enough to really know her but for some reason he felt close with the girl. Hell he was seeing parts of her in him every day though he still was unsure how a Manticore soldier especially at 10 could have so much ….sassiness.
473 looked up at him ready to scold at him for the nickname he had given her, she was almost 11! And she was a soldier; soldiers don't have such… babyish name. Still she quickly decided against it she knew that he wouldn't stop and secretly she hoped he didn't, she enjoyed the small secret code name he had given her, when he called her that she felt like she actually belonged.
Ignoring the nickname she nervously asked the question afraid he would laugh at her ,"Um well 494 uh why does Michelle call Charlie Pops?" she quickly blurted out hoping that he maybe didn't hear her and she could carry on normally, well as normal as a 9 year old genetically engineered soldier.
He knew she was referring to the show that they often watched on TV, when they were allowed to of course, damn what was it "Full House? No damn that was another show, oh well he thought.
Still he must admit he was shocked when she asked him this question, he knew she was curious and thought that maybe this was why he never fully understood her, one minute she was a soldier, then a jokester, after that a tough ass-kicking ..Girl, and sometimes, rarely she was just a normal 10 year old struggling to find her way especially in this hellhole. The girl was a rollercoaster, amen to whoever became responsible for her as a teen.
Realizing that 473 was still waiting for his response, he tried to think of some way to explain the outside world to the small child. Sure she could tell you the square root of 123 in 2 seconds and tell you how to kill a man 100 different ways using a paperclip in the blink of an eye, but the thing a normal 10 should know, that's what would stump her.
Go figure. When in Manticore, right?
Struggling he responded to her question," Well see in the outside world Pops sometimes is just a replacement for… Dad meaning a father, a father is someone---"he was cut off by the little girl.
"I know what a father is dummy," she replied rolling her eyes, a then flushed red when realizing she had replied outline.
Recognizing her mistake she said" Sorry, sir" correcting herself hoping that she wouldn't be in trouble for insubordination. Her and her stupid tongue!
494 chuckling at the child's slip of the mouth that occurred quite often, it was part of the reason he knew her but that is a different story.
"It's alright, just don't let me or anyone else hear you say that," he had grown accustomed to her and would hate to see her in trouble.
So he continued," so then why did you ask me what Pops meant?" at this point he was quite confused, he was unsure of the response she was looking for.
473 rolled her eyes, of course he didn't listen clearly to his direction, but she quickly wanted to reply hoping he didn't think she thought he was stupid she put on an innocent face and said, " I asked you, why does Michelle call Charlie Pops, even though he is not her father, she was adopted so how is he her father?", she re-asked the question so he would know how to respond.
494 crouched down to be closer to her, how was he too explain something that held deeper meaning when she never had experienced it, still silently laughing at her eagerness, and annoyance that he didn't respond to her question he decided he was going to fully show her why Michelle called Charlie Pops, he just had to figure out how, he thought to himself.
" Well you see… well sometimes your father doesn't necessarily have to related by blood," he tried to explain even though he could already see the puzzlement behind her eyes, he put thought into his next words hoping to display the truth to the meaning.
"Michelle calls Charlie, Pops or father, because to her he is a father, he sees her as she grows up, answers her question, and protects her. They don't have to be related but he still has her best interest a t heart, he cares for her and would do anything to please her." He finished with a feeling of satisfaction and suddenly realized that at any moment the director and trainer could barge in on their "heart to heart" moment, he tensed up and began to tell 473 that it was time to go.
473, unable to hold it in any longer said, "So would make you my Pops?" quickly after admitting her feelings she soon looked down embarrassed at her sudden outburst.
494 soon softened his look after hearing 473's confession, but before he could respond Trainer Greene, entered the room, he took one look and said.
"494,473, the director wants you two to practice in the room with the piano in corridor C"
The two transgenics followed the trainer into the room, one avoiding eye contact while trying to maintain her Manticore mask, and the other silently smiling at the small girl.
494 was thinking to himself, he was looking down at the small girl who only months ago he was assigned to, she managed to mingle her way into his heart, but this side of her, the vulnerable side was something that she rarely showed. It saddened him to see that a kid wasn't able to express their feelings even if they were in Manticore.
WHY DID I HAVE TO GO ASK HIM THAT WHY? 473 asked herself, he probably thinks that I'm a sorry excuse for a soldier, great know I have to spend 3 hours with him alone in a room, that's not going to be awkward, she mentally scolded herself, I guess I just wanted to know, know I may have screwed up the only friendship I could possibly have had.
The two followed Trainer Greene into the room, "Director Renfro wants you to continue the lessons you started a week ago, she said that the colonel may be coming to check up on you in a week or so and together you may go on a mission, I suggest you actually work this time soldiers" he stated recalling that last time they fooled around the whole session, anyone could see that they enjoyed one another's company and it was what allowed them to work the best, he didn't mind their friendship as long as they got the job done, and with that he walked out the door closing it behind them.
473 nervously looked around she was standing in the middle of the room not looking up at 494 but knowing he had taken his place at the piano stool, " Yay so we should uhh star?" she asked.
494 knew she was nervous usually she would be more confident so he decided to avoid the statement and toy around with her. "Yay sure but I was thinking maybe we could do something else since you know we already perfected your dance moves and my piano playing" while returning to her the smirk that she so often placed on her own face.
The two sat and leaned against the walls opposite them, 473 looked down at the ground and 494 starring at her. She couldn't take it anymore.
"Are you going to acknowledge what I said back there in the room or not?" she impatiently asked, once again scolding herself at the bluntness. For some reason she couldn't shake this matter off with a joke or something, it seemed important to her.
494 seeing how 473 needed the answer to be addressed he quickly got up to be in front of her and crouched down, "Hey, look at me" he sincerely said, he reached out to her titling her chin up so that she was forced to look him in the eyes.
"Why is it so important?" he knew deep down why put wanted to hear it straight from her.
She quickly realized how vulnerable she must have seemed to cause him to come over, and allowed the soldier in her take over.
494 saw the moment the Manticore mask slammed shut over the child she was moments again, he knew he needed to do something just so he could she her as, as someone other than a soldier, 473, but as his..Squirt. He smiled at that if she only knew he was using that name she would yell at him.
494 took a deep breath before preparing himself for the continuation of the discussion, he wasn't letting it go.
"Don't do that, don't run away from this topic, tell me what's the matter" he asked.
"Never mind it doesn't matter really," smiling at him to show that she was okay even if she wasn't," it was a stupid thing to say just the way Michelle is to Charlie is how you are to me sometimes, but that's prolly because your one of the few people that I know, and I just thought, oh never mind really" she finished hoping that he wouldn't be angry at her.
He got it cause truthfully he did act that way with her, usually he was a true soldier with everyone else, but with her he was… a person, he joked, laughed but also protected her when something was wrong so he did what he knew would bring down her mask, he loved the way she was without it, even if it made her a handful.
"You do mean something to me, so I'll tell you what I'm your Pops, only if you're my squirt" he said watching as she smiled and then scolded him for his own nickname for her.
473 pretended to think about it then said, "Deal. But we can't tell anyone right?" she never felt more happy, she was someone know even if squirt wasn't a real name.
"Yay it's our secret kay? Now why don't we get back to work before the Trainer or worse Renfro comes"494 said lending her a hand to lift herself up.
473 brushed his hand aside and picked herself up, he smiled she was back
"Pshh, you're the one who needs the practice" she said.
494 lifted his right eyebrow and sat on the stool he smirked, "Yay whatever you say…squirt".
473 rolled her eyes" Whatever you say Pops" as she started to stretch to begin the routine she was suppose to perform.
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He brought himself back from his flashback, and starred at the girl in front of him, she must be 17 know since he was 25, she was about 8 years younger.
Here she was 473, right in front him and her was speechless.
"Huh, I never remembered you every being speechless, it's a good look for you though" 473 said.
He was so overwhelmed he hadn't said anything, "Damn it's good to see you again" before pulling her into an embrace.
So what do you think, should I continue or delete it? Let me know. Thanx =D
If I continue, in the next chapter I will explain a bit of 473 and 494 relationship and Max will be there to.