Shaky Foundations

(A/N) And here we are, the epilogue of Shaky Foundations!

Don't expect too much, it's just a brief ramble :P

WARNING: Some perverted descriptions courtesy of a man's inner thoughts and a naughty word D:

Epilogue: A Fresh Page

"Schmidt? Schmidt? Where are you?" Tager called, traversing the busy laboratory to find the man he sought. His bulky frame clipped many as he tried the best he could to carefully tip-toe through. "There you are. Row three needs a few more carbon filters, can you get on that for me?"

The short, podgy, moustachioed man nodded silently and legged it, expertly dodging his way through the crowd like the star of a modern action film set in the big city. Tager couldn't help but feel a little bit jealous of Schmidt's abilities as he clumsily shifted his weight through the crowd once more to get to his workbench.

The Laboratory had been extremely busy recently after Sector Seven decided to relocate around fifty staff members from other cities to there. The lab was designed for around twenty people maximum however, and the stress was beginning to show. Many doctors and professors had to share their desks with someone else, and the amount of paper, pens and memory sticks that littered the floor made the place both smell like and resemble a Printing Press.

Getting back to work with sweaty palms, Tager was surprised to find a clammy and meaty hand tugging at his elbow. Lazily glancing back, he was welcomed by the frightful sight of Schmidt. While he was both one of his favourite scientists and his right hand man, the bloke did have a few strange tendencies, ranging from his overconsumption of Yorkie bars to his reluctance to comb his hair.

Schmidt pushed a pile of forms at him, which Tager gladly absorbed with a giant fist. "Charges from Cryotech." Schmidt said. "They want an advance payment this month."

Tager groaned, shaking his head: Cryotech was the main supplier of Sector Seven's equipment across the globe. While they constantly went on about how they supported their struggle, Cryotech really just wanted to leech as much money as they could from them before the NOL finished them off.

"The shit we have to deal with." Schmidt croaked, calmly grabbing a nearby Coffee Jug and emptying its entire contents into Tager's remarkably large litre mug. "It's hard to imagine how Kokonoe coped."

Kokonoe?

... Ah, that's right.

Dear Professor Kokonoe.

"I'll get started on those filters boss." Schmidt absently said, turning and leaving before he'd even finished the sentence. It didn't really matter anyway, since Tager tuned out right after the word "Started".

Kokonoe.

To be honest, it'd been around three months since she'd last been at the lab. She'd insisted on doing some papers for him, but he politely declined. Why wouldn't he? She was catching up on her free days off, having a much deserved break from work.

A break she spent with Ragna.

Tager originally questioned whether or not Kokonoe's choice to relate with that man was a good one, but after seeing who he really was Tager was quick to change his mind. Their relationship had done magic for the both of them, and Tager respected Ragna for that.

Parsnip pecked at her cage to his left, her wings stretching out awkwardly in its confines. She likely wanted to have some time to fly in the open, flex her muscles and breathe in some thicker and crisper air. Tager couldn't help but agree, and stealthily slipped his forms under his workbench.

Those can bother me later.

Grabbing the cage's specially designed handle, Tager plucked Parsnip from the tabletop and left the lab.

That certainly made navigation easier for everyone else.

X

As soon as the cage door was opened, Parsnip launched from her place like a bullet from its chamber. Within seconds she landed atop the Grand Oak, her favourite tree in the Botanical Garden.

Hulking forward, Tager clumsily turned around and took a seat at the tree's base. The Oak visibly leant back slightly, but its thick trunk easily held firm against his weight. Tager sighed, taking in the beautiful sight that he helped create.

And where the boy and girl found love.

In the months following their final confession to eachother in the gardens, Tager couldn't help but notice how Kokonoe had changed. He had no idea what Ragna did, but the Kokonoe Tager saw was nothing like the bitter girl he had spent years working with.

She had gained weight. Her once stick-thin and almost boyish shape had become curved and feminine, a pair of luscious hips and thighs springing to life from absolutely nowhere. He could recall one day at the lab during an experiment, where Schmidt whispered to him: "Since when did she look so damn sexy?"

Since the day they fell in love.

Her sweet-tooth had diminished tremendously. No longer did she sit at her desk surrounded by sweet-wrappers and cupcakes, what little energy she had sprouting from a sugar rush (Though she did sneak the occasional cheeky lollipop). In fact, last time he saw her eating she was partaking in a fruit salad.

"Since when did she start eating so healthily?"

Since the day they fell in love.

Her bags had practically disappeared, her usual expression of fatigue and depression having been replaced by a beautiful and loveable face. Her eyes bore the glimmer they had when she was a young girl, a shining gold rather than a dull amber.

And her personality?

Where could he start?

Her bitter anger had been completely erased, replaced by the confident sass and cheek of a happy young woman. That's not to say that she didn't get irritated, but for once she had become open to people. While once if Schmidt disagreed with her she'd punch him in the face, now she'd simply acknowledge his opinion. While once she had a vocabulary more colourful than a gay pride flag, she now rarely even said the word "Damn".

"Since when did she become such a kind, lovely person?"

Since the day they fell in love.

As Parnsip tweeted joyously, likely having picked an unsuspecting caterpillar from the branches of the brush, Tager couldn't help but wonder where Kokonoe actually was. For the life of him he couldn't remember why she was still off of work, the action totally contrasting her newfound zest and zeal for achievement.

Maybe he could ask Ragna about it later, though he'd rather not pry into their personal life.

Personal life...

Ah, that was it! He remembered now!

How could he have forgotten?

He'd always wanted to be an uncle.

X

(A/N): YES I DID.

If you want more Kokonoe action, don't worry: I'll be returning to her one day! Until then, stay in touch for the start of my next fic, which is in fact a sequel to Shattered Ties!

And with that, finito! The end! Thank you very much for reading! :)