A/n: This is a flashback and it deals with non cannon characters, If you're not interested in in OC interactions then you can skip it. Although, if you don't, thanks for reading
-Flashback, 8 yrs ago, Shiganshina-
The weeks went by fairly quick but still no opportunity arose for the final match between me and Mat to take place. Someone must've tipped off Captain Strauss since he paced around our sections a bit too often the last month or so. Ray and I practiced fighting daily and, taking into accord how bad my technique was compared to hers, one could say there had been significant improvements.
Mat still worked the late hours with me everyday, joking around with those guys from the section adjacent to ours, Nate and the others. He had a series of other jobs to support his sisters but still refused whenever I offered to help him out.
"Your family also needs that money, Martha.", he used to say when the subject came up. It wasn't a lie though, but mom also brought in her weekly pay so they weren't as helpless as Mat's family.
~
"Are you done with the day?", my tone was inquisitive, eyes still fixed on the dismatling of my gear's motor instead of searching for Mat's. We were working on the same table, cleaning the equipement alongside other officials who'd just ended their shift like us. Nate was there as well, a few tables ahead, sleeves rolled up and baring his toned forearms, whilst already finishing up assembling the motor.
"Yeah, finally...", the boy beside me sighed, a pleased smile spreading across his lips. "Jeez, Martha, could you be more obvious...?", he teased.
"What...? Obvious about what?"
"You're staring at Nathan... again.", he laughed, nudging my side with an elbow. "So, checking out the future husband prospects...?"
"Ugh, no!", my protest was rather loud, even though the metallic sounds the tools made on the equipement weren't particularly quiet. As a result, I was met by the gaze of the people around us and the embarassment crept up on me, heating up my cheeks and staining them a deep crimson color. Oh god... how awfully embarassing... Stupid Mat and his ridiculous questions about husbands... Ugh, what a jerk!
"Wow... hit a nerve, did I...?", he purred, only rilling me up further.
"Shut up... You're the worst...", lowering my head, the only thing to be done was continuing the task at hand in silence, hoping that maybe if I was quiet enough.. no more attention would be on me.
"'S a lovely blush you got going on Martha.", Nate chuckled as he approached our table. "What was it that made you sfeel so embarassed?, he smirked.
"Not you too...", a defeated huff escaped my lips, eyes rolling at him. "Don't you have some soap to go lose somewhere else...?"
"Come on.. it was one time! And now I'm 'the soap guy'. No need to get so salty, miss..." he joked and Mathias could not contain his amused smie as the red color refused to leave my face. "Although... you look pretty nice like that...", he mumbled to himself, making me even more embarassed and unable to come up with a proper response.
"What was that...?", Mat probed, checking to see if he'd said it on purpose. But Nate's cheeks gained a light pink color when he realised he'd said it out loud.
"What? Nothing, nothing! I have to go now, have a good night!", he babbled, scrambling off until he was no longer in the line of sight.
"He's so into you...", the boy beside chirped happily, raising his eyebrows at me.
"Oh, shut up... I'm going home now."
"Don't get mad, I'm just teasing... He does seem like a cool dude. I'll keep you company."
"Hn? How come? Feeling bad for teasing me so much?"
"Ahaaa, you wish, Martha", he laughed, "I need to get a couple of things from a lady who lives near you."
"Such a mean person.. Well, let's go then."
~
Apparently, Mat needed to pick up some groceries, but since he worked during the day almost nonstop, the only chance he got to get them was at night. The owner of the stall was a lady about the age of my parents and she was waiting for him when we knocked. Greeting us, they exchanged the money and bags and we said our goodbyes.
"Thanks again, Mrs. Lavender.", he smiled shyly. "And sorry for coming at such odd hours."
"Don't worry, deary.", she replied with a soft and wide grin. "Hope the little ones are doing okay."
"They are, thanks for asking, goodnight 'mam.", he said, and she closed the door behind us. "Well, good night Martha."
"What? Like I'd let you carry all those things alone...", a scoff rumbled in the back of my throat and I took two bags off his arms. "Come on, lead the way, mister."
"But-"
"No buts. I'm tired of you doing everything alone. We're friends, you can ask me for help whenever you, 'kay?". he caught up to me, walking side by side and gave me a fond smile.
"Thanks, Martha... But that doesn't change the fact that.. Nathan totally likes you.", he laughed loud at my change in countenance.
"Hey!.. What's that got to do with anything?!", he began to run away as I tried to punch his arm. "Come back here, fiend! I'll beat you up for this constant harassing!". Even though it annoyed me, his laugh was contagious and soon we were both laughing at nothing.
His house wasn't very far away and we arrived shortly after, panting from all the running and he invited me in. The kids were nowhere to be seen, since it was so late, so we began unpacking the food on the cupboards. It hadn't been more than five minutes before we heard some light rustling coming from outside the kitchen.
"Big brother...?", a high pitched voice mumbled softly and a small head peeked into the room. A little girl entered, holding a stuffed rabbit toy by its hand and still rubbing her eyes. Walking slowly with lids half closed, she hugged Mat's waist, lifting her tiny arms for him to pick her up.
"And uuuup we go.", he said, securing her on his arms. "What are you doing, staying up so late so late, huh? What a naughty girl you are, Katie...", he scolded playfully, smiling at her tired face.
"Uhm.. I'm sorry.. big bro.." she mumbled, nuzzling his neck and yawning. "Will you tell me a story?"
Looking at that small and cute angel had my insides melting in a matter of seconds and, when he gave me an apologetical look, I signalled him to go and tell the precious little girl a story and not worry about the kitchen. He probably didn't have much time to spend with them with all the Garrison hours he put in. About half an hour later, he returned, apologizing for leaving me alone.
"Don't worry, Mat. Family comes first and Katie is just soooo cute!", my body couldn't handle the level of cuteness of little Katie so my only choice was to try and resist the urge to hug her to death.
"She's so tiny... I really hate leaving them here alone during the day... and night. But I have no other choice, well, they don't really seem to mind it, so as long as they're happy, I'm happy.", he sighed, taking some of the I'd stocked into the cupboards out, "You know, she thought you were really pretty.", he smiled, chopping some carrots, probably preparing the meals for the following day.
"She did? Aw... Jeez, such a sweety..", I chuckled. "Tell her I said thanks. Well, it's late Mat. I should be heading home. Give the girls a kiss for me, will 'ya?"
"Sure thing. Sorry for dragging you here.", he smiled.
"Oh, not at all! I finally got to see one of your adorable sisters so.. completely worth it."
"Thanks for all the help. See you tomorrow.", he waved me goodbye with the knife in his hand, resuming the chopping after.
"Bye!", a chirpy sound escaped my lips, prancing out the front door and heading towards Ray's house. Seeing Mat's sister reminded me of Fred and how cute he also was when he wanted to. Nowadays, we never saw each other and, honestly, it was probably better like this. He hated me, the fact that I was in the Garrison and was a source of shame in our dad's eyes and there was nothing I could do or was willing to do to change that fact.
The dim light coming from the street lamps barely illuminated more than a few step around each house and all was silent, except for my boots pacing on the cold ground. A familiar silhouette was laying on a wooden bench in the now empty marketplace.
"Nate...?", it seemed like my voice woke him up, rolling around to face the sky and he opened his eyes slowly.
"Martha, hi!", he smiled, sitting up so that there'd be empty space next to him on the bench. "Fancy meeting you here at this hour? You also came to try this wonderful sleeping bench?"
"What...? A sleeping bench?"
"I'm just teasing", he chuckled. "What are you doing here, up so late?"
"I could ask you the same thing. Is that such a good 'sleeping bench' that you decided to ditch beds all together?"
"Well... as much as I'd like to say that I did...", he crossed his fingers behind his neck, looking up to the empty sky. "The truth is.. I came here because of a secret soap auction.", a gurgling laugh formed in his throat and he couldn't stiffle it. The whole idea of an underground secret soap auction was so ridiculous that I found myself laughing as well.
"And you wonder why you're 'the soap guy'..."
"Fair enough... But now seriously, I'm here because I may have missed the barracks' curfew and I'm sort of locked up outside..."
"Are you serious?", initially, the situation worried me but hey, at least now, he could actually go find the super secret soap auction. A giggle came out from thinking this and he raised an eyebrow at me.
"What's so funny?"
"Oh, nothing.. nothing."
"Hn, fine. So now it's your turn. You tell me why you're here.", he requested, nudging my with his elbow. "Sneaking around with a boyfriend, are we...?". A sly grin formed on his lips, and the opportunity to tease him couldn't simply go to waste.
"What if I am?", giving off a not so innocent look, the answer fled my lips, eyes searching his for a reaction. It wasn't at all what I'd expected. Under the light of the lamp, caught sight of his blushing cheeks.
"OH... that's nice.. I guess..", he muttered, embarassed but still trying to play it cool and utterly failing. "So what's his name?"
"Joking."
"Jo King? What an odd name... Wonder how's his parents' names are..", he noted, pensive.
"Are you seeerious? Nate, there isn't a boyfriend, I was joking!", wasn't totally sure if he'd actually thought the guy's name was Jo King or if he was making fun of me but that didn't matter; the tortured and embarassed expression he'd shown me for that split second had been so adorable that it sort of made me want to tell him things like that so I'd see it again and again. But ultimately, my conscience decided against it. "You got all embarassed.. How cuute!", fingers lightly pinched his cheeks, my tone as if talking to a small child.
"No.. I wasn't.. I was just pretending so you'd touch me.", he replied, pretending to sulk and, noticing how close we were and my hand resting on his face created a pit in my stomach, heat rising up in a wave. My pulse also picked up its pace significantly, turning the playful atmosphere into something strange that made my whole body heat up. The hand touching him recoiled like it was on fire.
"Pervert!", I snarled, furrowing my brow and turning away in attempts to hide the red shade staining my face.
"Ha ha, look who's embarassed noww..", he mocked.
"Oh, piss off.. I'll be going home now..", with a huff, I got up, away from that sultry voice and stupidly cute face and toned arms.
"Hey, I was just playing, no need to get so offended... Fine, I'll admit it.. I did get a bit disappointed when you said you went to meet your boyfriend.."
"Fuck off... I'm sure you did, Nate... Don't try to sweet talk me!", while it was fun to be mad at him, I really wasn't. Plus, he got disappointed? That cute and hot guy? WELL THEN, just the thought made more blood rise to my face.
"Such a foul mouth, Martha..", he joked. "I'm sure if Strauss heard you, he'd have your mouth washed with canon soap."
"God... not that!", just the thought of those rusty canons touching my mouth even indirectly, was enough to make me shiver. "I never swear in front of senior officers so I'll be fine. Also, it's not like anyone's eavesdropping on us here so.. no soap for me.", I laughed. "Look, it's really late, so I have to go."
"Already? And here I was, hoping to have the company of the cutest looking sailor mouthed girl I know...", he pouted, slumping down on the bench.
"Your words flatter me indeed sir. BUt seriously, are you planning on sleeping here?"
"I have nowhere else to go so.. yeah, I guess so."
"Well.. don't take this the wrong way but.. Why don't you sleep at my house? I mean, at least, you'll have a roof over your head."
"I don't want to be a bother but that you be awesome of you, Martha.", he smiled, getting up and beginning to walk by me.
"I guess I am pretty nice. And cool and an expert canon cleaner and-"
"And totally modest...", he interrupted, trying to keep from laughing.
"Oh, shut up, have you seen how shiny they get? I am the best!..", we kept on talking about meaningless things and he crashed for the night, sleeping on the floor next to the couch.
~
The next morning with him and Ray was severely awkward, having to explain that no, we hadn't 'done' anything and it was just me looking out for a friend to which her response was rolling her eyes.
"Oh well.. that's too bad, he's got a pretty face and a body that sure matches...", how could she say such embarassing things?! He was right there, taking a shower! Probably listening to the WHOLE conversation as we spoke! The shame was unbearable.. Oh no.. He really was showering in my house. My house. Naked... that body which I admired while fully clothed was now naked in the same shower I used every day.
Enough with your wicked thoughts, brain. He's just a friend taking a shower, like a regular person, nothing special and.. wait.. does he have a towel in there? Will he have to ask us to bring one? Holy sweet Wall Maria, he just- ENOUGH WITH THE THINKING, MIND. okay? Let's calm down... Deep breaths, in and out...
"Don't think too much about it, Martha.", Ray teased, seeing the flushed expression on my face. She passed me a fresh cup of tea (something which she'd gotten me basically addicted to) and grinned. "Your head might melt.."
"Shut up! I wasn't thinking about anything..."
"Sure thing... You might wanna check your face.. that red color really suits you. Anyways, if you want to train a bit before our shift then hurry, 'cuz I'm starting in an hour and I don't want to get on Strauss' bad side."
"Right, let's go then.", taking a swig at the hot liquid, we went to the back of the house, where we used to practice. It'd become a habit to talk during our matches so, breaking the silence with a high kick, I struck up a conversation. "So... ngh.. why did Feng teach you how to fight anyways?"
"None of your.. goddamned business..", she huffed in response.
"Oh come on.. Fuck!.. you little..." the words came out through my clenched jaw, a hand rubbing my side, where she'd hit me. "Just tell me already... ugh... what's with all the secrets?"
"Some fucker came... to the shop.. and.. AH, you bitch!", she yelled when my fist slammed her ribs.
"Aha, gotcha. But please, continue."
"I'll get my revenge.. Anyways.. this dude... came to the shop and.. started making a scene... so Feng kciked him out before.. things.. got too serious. And I guess that was.. when he decided.. to... teach! me.", catching me off balance, Ray managed to throw me onto the floor, my back hitting the stone.
"Hey, can't you be a bit more gentle?! That fucking hurt, 'ya know?!"
"Oh, shut up, you big baby... ask your boyfriend Nathan to kiss it better...", she joked, rejoicing in my angered expression.
"I really hate you...", I mumbled, sulking.
"But I could kiss you wounds better, Martha...", Nate joined the conversation, talking through the open window. My gaze turned ice cold with silent anger and embarassment, just seeing Ray's shit-eating grin get wider.
"Don't encourage her...", was my reply, a snarl that only made then both laugh while I was left dreading that newly formed alliance against me.