—So Baan Foolish—

You know you can't avoid your Handler. She's your partner, after all, and had been assigned to you by the Commission. You know that, but you still can't help the way you drag your feet when you head to her favourite hangout: the Canteen.

When she catches sight of you, she lifts a hand in greeting, but there's none of the usual over eagerness and she doesn't talk a mile a minute when you join her. Her smile is strained.

You're torn between acting as though things are business as usual and bringing up what had happened a few nights ago. When you finally decided on the latter, your Handler beats you to it.

"I heard you made it to the Rotten Vale. What's it like?"

You explain to her that there hadn't been much time to explore after the events that unfolded. You're ready to make a second attempt to explore the Vale and that's where she comes in. The Commission wants you working in pairs and so you will.

You try, again, to bring up your mistake and she waves you away. There's some of her usual unflappable spunkiness in her tone when she tells you not to worry about it.

Part of you still does.

...

"Hey, wasn't the Third Fleet Master supposed to come with us?"

She's standing too close to you on the flight deck. You step away as inconspicuously as you can manage and explain that the scholar won't be joining you until she's recovered.

The elegant scholar is more delicate than her attitude conveys, it seems, because the poisonous fumes from the Vale had made her sick. Last you had seen her she was pale, nauseated, and cranky, but otherwise fine.

Even a fool could tell that you admire her and your Handler frowns slightly.

"I didn't even know she could fight."

She can, and she looks fantastic in her armor. You keep that last tidbit to yourself, but somehow you think the brown-haired girl picks up on it regardless.

"That's great," she says in a tone that indicates the opposite.

The earth trembles and there's a loud clattering sound, as though it's raining stones. When a large, spined monster goes rolling past, you grab your Handler and make a dash for the ivy ladder that creeps up the side of a steep bluff. As you work to haul your combined weight upwards, the hulking, spiny creature growls and stomps, sending stalagmites crashing to the ground.

"That's a Radobaan," the Handler hisses, fumbling with her pack to get her notes out. "It's weak to blast attacks and its head and legs can be broken."

Too bad you've neglected to bring a heavier weapon like a hammer. The light, thin Pulsar Shotel strapped to your back will have to do.

She nods obediently when you tell her to stay hidden, eyes wide. You take off at a run, and then you leap from the cliff, down onto the monster's back. You palm the sharp carving knife kept at the small of your back, stabbing it repeatedly between the cracks in the Brute Wyvern's spiny armor. It bucks and twists in an attempt to throw you off, but eventually it collapses beneath you. You draw your long sword and deliver a blow that sends electricity crackling through the behemoth and the spines along its shoulders fall to the ground with a 'crack'!

It groans as it clambers back to its feet and you have to dive clear as it curls itself into a ball and steamrolls towards you. Between dodging and jabbing at the Radobaan, you're getting disoriented and exhausted, but then the beast isn't in much better condition as it wheels around only halfway curled.

There's another 'crack'! like lightning as you snap off the jagged spines that adorn the monster's face.

You hear your Handler cheer from overhead and so does the Radobaan because beady eyes zero in on the cliff where she's still hidden. As the monster lumbers towards it, you rain swift Spirit Blades on it with the power you've built up in the weapon. It's surprisingly mobile, climbing the rock face with ease, and your Handler's surprised yelp makes you quicken your pace as you scramble up after it.

In the next moment, she jumps down, and the Radobaan follows her, knocking you on your back with its huge spined tail. Your ears ringing, you quickly regain your footing and give chase after the rolling behemoth and the fleeing girl.

...

You're getting sloppy. Your Handler assures you that that isn't the case, but you still feel like an idiot for having gotten yourself injured again. You have to lean on her to walk properly and her shorter form makes it so that she has to struggle to support you. Your Palico follows from the rear with your weapon and headgear.

Your Handler is flushed, but grinning, by the time you make it back to the airship.

There's a small commotion amidst the scholars as you touch down in the Research Base. They're all excited to hear the good news, though you regret to tell them you've made less progress than you had hoped as your left calf smarts. You've probably torn something and the lower ribs on the same side feel as though they've been fractured.

At a quiet, accented command, the throng disbands. Your eyes go immediately to the Third Fleet Master, who reaches out to receive you. Though she's slender she supports you easily, your bodies fitting together like puzzle pieces.

You know you're staring, but you can't help it. This beautiful, elegant woman turns you into a babbling fool with her mere presence and her arm around your waist inspires a host of emotions that flutter beneath your breast.

You manage to tear your gaze away long enough to thank your Handler for her help, but her expression makes the words stop short.

You're a fool for only just noticing that your Handler looks at you the same way.