NEO World of Advent Chapter 14

Light was in the room where the crew normally kept their physical endurance to a Mist-approved level. He held a dumbbell in his right hand, thinking about how much easier it would be if he used his oversol to help lift it. Light sighed aggravatedly, as he had already promised himself he wouldn't use his dormant reploid half to help. If he was going to improve, he'd have to do it the hard way.

There was a rap on the door, probably to get his attention. Light opened it, finding Mist outside. She looked irritated; Light hoped that sending her a month supply of birth control hadn't set her off the edge. In retrospect, it wasn't one of his more romantic gestures. Light let down his dumbbell. "Erm, hello. Captain," he added.

"I see you're working out," Mist said. "Good. I need someone to let off some steam with. And no, not in the way your little care package suggests. "I just got off the phone with my mother and I need someone to vent on."

"I take it whatever she said did not go over well?" Light put down the set of weights. It looked as though he might be using his oversol after all.

"That is none of your business," Mist said. "I just said I got through talking with her, that's all."

"Yeah," Light said, "But most people don't look like they want to strangle someone after a nice chat with their parents."

"I still reserve the right to court-martial you, you know," Mist said warningly. "As it is, our relationship is entirely too unprofessional. I actually do enjoy our banter, but you are my subordinate. It's not ethical for me to continue like this."

"You don't have to be married to your job," Light said. "We both know there's more to you than what you let the others see."

"Be that as it may," Mist said, "This is my duty. I am Leviathan's daughter; I can't be seen cavorting with one of my crewmates. My rank would be revoked faster than I could make up some cock-and-bull explanation for my behavior."

"I'll stop flirting with you," Light said, "If you can beat me in this spar you have planned. I'll be the perfect little cabin boy; no more dick jokes, no more quasi-romantic gift packages. One hundred percent in line."

"You realize I am Leviathan's daughter," Mist said. "Right? You won't win."

"If I do," Light said, "Then I get to take you out on a date. Just one; it's not like we'd be announcing our engagement to the mass media."

"Very well," Mist said. "But don't expect me to go easy. If I have to, I'll use my oversol. I'm sorry Light, but this is the end of whatever you'd call this."

"I was hoping to call it my successful attempt at courting," Light said. "You're the first girl who I've ever felt this way for. No one else quite gets me."

"I wonder why," Mist said dryly. "Let's just get this over with. Remember, you promised. No backing out after the fact. The first one to hit the floor loses."

"Deal." Light stood at the end of the room. "But I'm full of surprises. And I don't intend on losing, either."

Mist shrugged. "We'll see." She started off their challenge with a quick kick to the side, which Light blocked, only for the leg to phase through his own and land on the other side of his chest. His body was on high alert, given the stakes of their duel, however and Light found his chest had already hardened with his oversol. Light's enhanced speed gave him the opening he needed to swing a hardened fist at Mist's own chest, gritting his teeth when it sunk into liquified water once more. He hopped back, mind ablaze with frantic possibilities, some way to get around her body's liquefaction.

Light played the next few moves out with the calculated precision of a master strategist, each move, each slight difference in their momentum factored in his battle plan. As Mist's body turned liquid, her body slowed down. While he couldn't physically harm her in that state, other parts of the body moved a slight degree more sluggishly. As Mist had already phased through two of his punches made in short succession, he knew multiple places of her body could turn, but he doubted all of it could at once.

Mist, for her part, had landed several hits on Light. He had taken some necessary risks to glean what information he could out of her oversol, but had earned some bruises in the process. He spun a kick, gyrating his lower body like a top as Mist's entire middle made a splashing sound as it burst against the water. Suddenly, Light felt the leg grow cold and he cursed, quickly jabbing it away as ice settled around the space it had just been in.

Light examined his opponent critically. Mist's oversol was in full effect now; a royal blue plating covered her body, reshaping itself as water solidified into armored flesh. She was truly one of the most challenging opponents he had ever had. Light felt a sudden jab as Mist punished him for his train of thought in the form of an icicle being thrown his way. It impacted harmlessly against his own armored chest, but the sting of the impact reminded Light of what was at stake here.

Another failed punch turned into a near loss by means of flash freeze caught Light off guard. He didn't need to think, he just needed to act. Chaos' words echoed in the back of his mind: "Don't think about it, man. The more time you think, the less time you have to act." The small, mental projection of Chaos egged him on. So Light let go of whatever held him back. He let the rest of his oversol cover his body, a rush he hadn't allowed himself to experience ever since he discovered who he really was. The blood red oversol of Zero's child flowed forth, replacing pink skin with crimson. The room stood at a standstill. Water droplets fell to the floor at a fraction of the speed Light had processed them before.

This time, he was successful. His fist was met the resistance only a solid limb could provide. Light knew that also meant that for a short time, Mist's natural manipulation of water was now his. Instead of using it himself, Light took advantage of her inability to phase through his attack as he placed a palm thrust on her stomach, sending her crashing to the floor. Light stared giddily at the sight of his captain struggling to her feet, and the implications of it before the gravity of what he had just done crashed all around him.

He had just used his oversol. Not just some of his oversol, his full oversol. No amount of backpedaling could convince Mist that he had no connection to Zero now. Light let the red armor fade into soft flesh as Mist stared at him, mouth wide open. "Who the hell are you really," Mist asked faintly. "That oversol…"

Light groaned. "I was really hoping that wouldn't happen. Is there any chance you could forget what you just saw?"

"Oh no." Mist jabbed a finger at his chest. "We are not letting this go. That was Zero's armor. That power isn't just a random thief's ability. That was the Zero Knuckle, wasn't it?"

"Yeah," Light said. "It was. Don't freak, alright? I can explain."

"Oh you're going to." There was a mirthless gleam in Mist's eyes as she said it. "How the unholy hell did their lost child end up in my squadron?"

"Destiny?" Light made a weak attempt at humor. "Maybe we were supposed to be together."

"Oh my god," Mist said. "I find a boy I like and he's my family's archnemesis' son. This cannot be happening."

"So you do admit you like me!" Light was determined to look on the bright side of things. "So that means we're still on for tonight, right?"

"You idiot," Mist said. "This is way bigger than either of us. How have you lived this long without anyone knowing who you are? You're supposed to be dead. Under the registry, Light's name is listed as deceased."

"It's not like I knew all this time," Light said. "I grew up in the colonies, remember? That's a long walk from civilization. I only found out a couple of years ago."

"So then why didn't you say anything?" Mist clutched the corner of a weight rack for support. "Do you get off on letting everyone think you're gone?"

"Hey," Light said, "I'm not doing this just because I feel like it. You think I wasn't excited to learn that I had a family? I've got some other stuff to deal with first is all."

"Like what?" Mist clutched her head, as though a massive headache was coming on. "What could possibly be so special that you couldn't get the leaders of the damn Resistance involved?"

"It's personal." Light folded his arms. "I lost some people a ways back and the only way I'm getting them back is if they don't know I'm looking for them. Having the media highlight your every move kind of throws a wrench in that, doesn't it? Tell me, when was the last time reporters decided to leave people the hell alone?"

"You have a point there," Mist conceded grudgingly. "They really have no concept of personal space. That doesn't change anything though. You realize I have to tell my mother about this, right?"

"Don't," Light pleaded with her. "We can skip that date if you want. Just don't tell anyone. I can't let them know where I am."

"This is out of my hands," Mist said. "Once this gets out, everyone's going to want to know about you." Mist punched the wall. "Damn it! They're going to take you out of the unit, too. I can't have one of the five people my mother let me have leave."

"I thought there were plenty of reserves." Light stared, confused. "Surely we're not the only five people qualified for the job."

"Of course not," Mist said. "You aren't even the most qualified for the job. But my mother wouldn't let me have this unless I proved myself to her first." She swore violently. "Once this gets out, it's over."

"It doesn't have to get out," Light reasoned with her. "Just don't say anything. If it comes down to it, deny knowing anything about it. I'm pretty good at hiding my oversol most of the time. I just panicked is all. I don't want to stop seeing you."

"I don't want to either," Mist said grudgingly as if it pained her to admit it. "You're the first person to see me as more than just some trinket my mother kept as a souvenir. People respect you, of course, but that's all it ever is. No one ever stops to think that there might be more to me than Leviathan's daughter." She spoke the phrase this time as though she hated it.

"So don't say anything. We don't have to let the world know anything; you can keep your task force and hopefully," Light added, "I can still get that date you promised me."

"I did promise," Mist said. "I don't want to be seen as a sore loser. I told you not to back out of it if you lost, so I suppose I should do the same. But I'm taking you, you're not taking me. I don't know what kind of idea you have in mind for a date, but we're doing it my way. I'll send something nice for you to wear later. Make sure to be wearing it at 10 PM sharp."

"I take it that's when our evening of enchantment is taking place?" Light pulled at the scruff of his jacket. "And what's wrong with what I'm wearing?"

"Take a shower too, while you're at it," Mist added as though she hadn't heard him. "I refuse to go on a date with someone who smells like sweat."

"Can do," Light said. "I'll see you then?"

"Just be ready." Mist shook her head. "This is so not how I expected this to turn out."

"That's not necessarily a bad thing," Light said jauntily. "Who knows, maybe now you'll finally get to see what an amazing boyfriend I will be."

"Don't get your hopes up," Mist told him. "This is simply me honoring my word. Don't expect anything more."

"Got it." Light supposed she didn't need to know that he had already planned a June wedding. Hopefully she knew some good arrangement services; he was at a loss for decoration.

The two of them left with the promise of a night spent doing something of Mist's choice. Mist, for her part, let the team know that their normal activities scheduled had been canceled due to a 'freak migraine,' and that they were free to do what they wanted for the remainder of the day. Light found himself wearing a suit someone had placed inside his closet beside his official uniform of the Meikai army. Wherever they were going, it ruled out casual.

There was a tapping at the door; Light half expected it to be Mist, but it was still a half hour's way off from 10 PM. "Yes," he called out through the crack, careful not to let anyone see what he was wearing.

"Yo," Rak said. "Up for a game of pool? The cap's down for the count, so we're playing a game out in the rec room. You're invited of course."

"Er, not today," Light said, doing his best to sound sick. "Freak migraine."

"Is there something going around I should be worried about?" Rak tried to get a better view of Light through the crack; he sidestepped to avoid that unnecessary exposure.

"No," Light told him, "Just stress. Have fun with the rest of the guys. Tell them I'm sorry I couldn't make it."

"Got it. Hope you feel better soon." Rak's footsteps faded from the hallway as Light breathed a sigh of relief and checked the clock. 9:45. There was still a little bit left before Mist was due to show up. Hopefully the others wouldn't catch her by surprise and ask her to join in as well.

10 PM passed by without so much as a knock, and Light was starting to get worried. What if she went back on her word? She didn't seem the type to do it, but what if she told someone about who he was regardless? Scenarios of an evening spent at the helm of the door raced through Light's mind before he felt his world spin around him, the telltale blue flakes of a transfer in progress letting him know that he was about to be somewhere very different.

Light blinked twice at the loss of the brightness of his room. Wherever he was now, it was dimly lit and cramped. Coat racks held various suits and other finery that nobles considered too heavy for the evening's events. On the other side of the coat rack, Mist's voice called out hesitantly. "Light, are you there?"

"I'm here," Light said, brushing the coats aside. Mist was in a fine strapless cerulean dress; Light thought it complemented her hair nicely. "But you could have told me you were going to transfer me."

"I wanted it to be a surprise. Surprise! I would have called sooner, but I needed to finish dressing here."

"If only I had been summoned ten minutes earlier." Light bemoaned the opportunity to see his date in a state of undress gone unfulfilled. "So, where are we? Never mind that, what are we doing?"

"We're in a supply closet," Mist told him. "Some of the human royalty use it if they want to be discrete about changing their attire. We're going to a restaurant nearby. I think you'll like their seafood."

"I've never actually had seafood before," Light admitted. "Fish was too expensive in the city and it wasn't exactly a hospitable environment for seafood you know, in the desert."

"You'll like it," Mist said. "Otherwise this just isn't going to work out between us. I've decided that I can be with Zero and Ciel's son, but not someone who hates seafood."

"Sounds fair." Light held out his arm. "Lead the way."

Mist took his arm and steered him outside, where the normal hustle and bustle of the streets had given way to the quiet pace of nighttime. "This is the royal district," she explained. "You won't find as much of the chaos the rest of the city finds itself in here."

"Fancy." Light meant it too; Mist directed them to the inside of a candlelit restaurant with an exotic array of suited waiters and waitresses. They held enormous platters of the most tantalizing food Light had ever seen. He couldn't recognize half of what was being served, but he knew he wanted all of it.

"Follow my lead," Mist said, "And try not to say anything until we've been seated. If you embarrass me, I'm poisoning your wine."

"I'm getting wine?" Light was impressed; she really had pulled out all the stops. "I appreciate the gesture, but you don't need alcohol to get me in bed."

"Like that," Mist said, "Don't say stuff like that."

"My lips are sealed." Light made as if zipping his mouth shut to which Mist held back a comment as someone told them they would be seated momentarily. Once actually seated on a balcony, Light looked at the view around them. It overlooked the sea, a slight salty breeze complementing a scene of the city skyline.

A waiter came by to ask them what they would have to drink. Mist, true to what was said before, ordered Light a glass of some wine he couldn't pronounce while she seemed to be content with water.

"Is that because you don't want to be tipsy or the whole water control thing you have going on," Light asked once the waiter was out of earshot. "If you're worried about me, I wouldn't. I could probably outlast you anyway."

"It's both," Mist said casually. "And I doubt you would, but if you want to challenge someone to a shot contest, I wouldn't do it with expensive wine." She held up a menu thoughtfully. "The tuna here is really good. It's my favorite."

"I guess I'll have that," Light said as he made a mental note that she liked tuna. "It's not like I have any frame of reference."

"It's a lot less 'fishy,' some say," Mist explained. "If this is your first time eating seafood, I thought we might as well start with the meatier fish."

"No complaints here," Light said. "I appreciate meat as much as the next Advent." The two relaxed into casual talk, something Light found he enjoyed. As much as he found their banter to be the highlight of his day, this was something new. It was casual, unforced. Topics such as the night's sky or the smell of the breeze came up. It didn't feel as though there was a need to impress the other; to Light, it felt perfect.

"So why is this program so important to you anyway?" Light took a sip of the wine; it was slightly bitter with a fruity aftertaste. "How come you want it to succeed so badly?"

"I suppose this was bound to come up eventually," Mist said. "My father died while out at sea. I never knew him; I was still being incubated when it happened. My aunt went out on an unauthorized rescue mission to look for him, but neither of them made it."

"Oh." Light felt like an idiot. "I didn't know."

"I try to keep my personal life separate from my work. Not," Mist said, "That it did any good with you."

"So why is your mother so opposed to the idea, if you don't mind me asking? It seems like the kind of thing she would want to fund, her husband having died at sea and all."

"My parents were never married." Mist took a sip of water as if critiquing the taste. "My mother saw that the other Guardians already had plans for children and didn't want to feel left out. She found someone who she felt whose genes would be suitable for her child and had the whole thing authorized. There was no love involved, per se."

Light frowned; she spoke of the matter of her coming to be so mechanically, as though she were a particularly shiny trinket someone had custom ordered. "I'm sure they would be proud," he said. "If it means anything to you, I think it's a great idea."

"You do?" Mist smiled. "That's the first time anyone's ever told me that it's something other than a waste of time and space. My mother wants to use this base's funding to terraform," she explained. "She doesn't think that a few fishermen outside of city limits is an appropriate use of Neo Arcadian resources."

"Well yeah," Light said. "You've seen me out on the ocean. Me and water don't mix. I'd sure rest easier if I knew there was someone coming to rescue me if my boat crashed. It's a good thing someone's taking the initiative."

Mist gave him a happy glance, one of the few rare and unrestrained glimpses behind her tough-as-nails act she wore for everyone else. "I'm not sure if I'd save you specifically, but I'm glad you think it's not a waste of time. I'd hate for my cabin boy to not have his heart in it." Their food arrived before more could be said of the subject, Light finding that he did in fact, like seafood.

"This is amazing," Light said as he dipped a nugget of fish into some buttery sauce. "So much better than sim sausage."

Mist snickered. "You really must have been scraping the bottom of the barrel before this, huh? It's the cheapest food money can buy. How much of that have you had to eat?"

"Way too much," Light said. "I don't think I can ever go back. Not after this," he said, savoring the juices of the tuna steak on his plate. "This is the best night of my life."

"You know," Mist said, "I'm enjoying it too. Maybe there's something to this dating thing after all."

"Just you wait," Light said. "Next time it's my turn. I can't promise anything as fine as this, but I know how to have a good time."

Mist seemed to give the matter some thought. "Why not? I'm not expected back anytime soon tonight. We can do your thing now, if you want."

"Score." Light finished the last of his plate, mopping up the remainder of that creamy sauce with a hunk of bread, mourning the loss of his food, but looking forward to the night's continued events. "I hope you don't mind dark alleys. But you're probably going to have to dress in something grungy."

"Grungy?" This was apparently an unfamiliar concept to Mist. "What's wrong with what I'm wearing now?"

"I think you missed the part about dark alleys," Light said. "Best not to be wearing an expensive dress where you might get mugged."

"I can take care of myself," Mist scoffed. "Any common thief would find themselves in a world of hurt if they tried robbing me."

"I don't doubt it," Light said, "But as far as lying low goes, you're not exactly inconspicuous."

"Just where are we going anyway?" Mist asked.

"It's a surprise," Light said wickedly. "But don't worry; I'm not going to beam you over there. We're taking a cab."

Mist rolled her eyes as the meal was put on her tab. "Alright, but this one's on you. I paid for the fish, you pay for the grungy."

"I think I can spare a few zenny," Light said. "There should be a thrift shop still open at this hour."

"I am not wearing someone else's hand-me-downs," Mist said. "You find me something that doesn't have a history behind it or we're through tonight."

"Fine," Light said. "But don't knock thrift shops. Some of the stuff has character. Later we can play Name That Stain if you can stomach it."

"Please tell me you are joking." Mist followed him outside, where an automated cab was hailed by Light. "I'm not going to regret this, am I? What if someone knows who I am?"

"Relax," Light said. "I was joking. And if someone does see you, they'll just talk to the tabloids. They'd probably say something, sure, but they also say you're secretly a man." He gave Mist a look. "Is there something you need to tell me?"

Mist rolled her eyes. "As if. Just clue me in on what we're doing here."

"I'm going to see if you really can hold your liquor." Light grinned. "You get a handicap with my glass of wine, so you can't complain."

"You're going down." Mist gave him a wicked grin. "I may have done this more than once with my cousin before."

"Who, Flare? He doesn't seem the type. More of the straight and narrow kind."

"Venti," Mist explained. "She liked the idea of having fun."

"Sounds like my kind of person. If you're so convinced you can win, I say we take a detour to my old fight club. Their alcohol has one heck of a kick to it."

Mist laughed shortly before realizing Light wasn't joking. "You're serious."

"I would never joke about underground fight clubs and alcohol," Light said. "It's the Black Sky; just promise me you won't get it reported or something."

"Yeah, because explaining how I was at an illegal underground fight club is definitely my idea of a good time." The two of them stopped by a discount clothing shop, where Mist came out of the dressing room wearing tarnished jeans and a t-shirt. "Well, what are we waiting for? I've still got to prove that mine is the superior liver."

"I've always wanted to hear those words from a girl," Light said. "Come on in, I'll introduce you to Black Eyed Pete."

Light found Sneak, who let them into the back room. Once there, a burly bartender called him over, displaying two rows of chipped teeth and an eyepatch. "Well if it isn't Big Red," he said. "Haven't seen you around these parts lately. What's wrong? Did you finally get a date?"

"Is your other eye not working?" Light flaunted Mist's appearance by his side. "I can be very charming when I want to be."

"Then I guess you weren't that into it before," the man shot back. "Well, I suppose I should be happy you found someone willing to put up with your peculiar sense of humor. Who is the unfortunate girl, by the way? She seems familiar."

"She does a bit of modeling," Light said airily as Mist punched him. "But don't let that deceive you; she has one hell of an arm. Ow…"

"Well Miss Model," Black Eyed Pete said, "Welcome to the Black Sky. What'll it be?"

"Hit us hard with your special mix," Light told him. "I want to prove to her that I'm still the house champion of shot-taking."

"This should be interesting." Black Eyed Pete reached down to procure a large tankard of some murky liquid and two shot glasses. "Just don't overdo it, hear? I'm not calling the medics on your drunk asses."

"I can handle myself," Mist assured the man. "It's this guy you should be worried about."

"I see it's not just her looks that caught your interest," Black Eyed Pete said with a nudge to Light's side. "It's on the house if you can go past ten of them."

What happened next would forever lost to Light as a haze of competition, hormones, and drunken overconfidence. What he did remember was finding himself back at his flat - and he wasn't alone. Light rolled over to his side, registering a warm, fleshy substance beside him through the haze of his hangover. Light realized with a start that he no longer had any clothes on.

Neither did his captain, stirring beside him. Light swore. "Oh sh-"