Chapter 4: The Gift
"Ooooh, what about that one?! Can we go look at that one?!"
"We're here for food, Neon, not bullets or weaponry. We have plenty of that already."
"But just LOOK at those new shotgun parts! My baby could do with some of those!"
"Then you can file a requisition order when we get back." Rapi replied coolly, hanging the two shopping bags off of her left shoulder to check her shopping list with her free hand.
"This isn't fair! Master! Master, tell her-"
As Rapi and Neon continued their back and forth, Jonathan just chuckled to himself and hefted his full bag in his hand, opening it to check inside. Not that he didn't trust Anis to have gotten everything at the last store, but…
Three flavours of meat, two flavours of fish…yeah, looks like everything we needed from there.
What else do we need? Oh yeah, some cheese. Maybe some flavourings as well.
He winced as the shooting pains and heat from his feet began to register. Now that he'd stopped, it was starting to set in just how much walking he'd already done. Checking his watch, he boggled at the time.
It's been an hour and a half already, huh? Sure didn't feel like it till just now. Ah, I guess we did walk most of the way.
"Rapi-" He began.
"We can get the cheeses and flavourings, Commander." His second guessed what he wanted before he'd even suggested it. "Why not take a break? We've been wandering around shops for a long time already."
"Really? You sure?"
"No sweat!" Anis skipped forward to grab the shopping bag from him. "Go take it easy, Commander, we'll come find you when we're done!"
He watched his team stride off…with Anis collaring Neon when the latter tried to veer off into the nearby weapon shop, then ignoring her protests and flailing with practised ease as they disappeared into the crowds.
So…what to do now?
A gurgling from his stomach gave him his answer.
Come to think of it, Cafe Sweety's around here isn't it? I can check in on them and get some grub at the same time.
Yeah, sounds like a good call.
As he set off, Jonathan felt a buzz and jingle from his phone and pulled it from his pocket. It was a new message from Andersen.
"Have you made a decision yet?"
Jonathan swallowed and tugged at his collar nervously. It had only been a day, for god's sake!
"I'm still thinking about it sir. This is still a big step."
"Understood. I've already begun preparations, just in case."
Preparations? What?
The thought puzzled and worried him all the way to Cafe Sweety's front door. Shaking himself out of it, Jonathan pulled open the door and stepped inside, determined to at least enjoy a decent meal in peace.
"Oh, it's you Pal!" Milk was the first to greet him, bounding up with a smile on her face. "What brings ya' here today?"
"Just a coffee and cake break in the middle of a shopping trip, is all." He replied, walking over and taking a seat at a table by the left window. "How'd things go on the extermination mission?"
"UGH!" The Nikke's mood soured immediately, Milk's expression curdling into a grimace and scowl as she folded her arms and huffed.
"...that bad, huh?"
"The mission was fine, we killed 'em all, no problem! But oh my god…how do they put up with her!?"
"Her?"
"Those Absolute girls! How they manage to stop from giving Eunhwa a good knuckle sandwich when she starts bitching and whining about protocol is beyond me! "Stick to the plan!" this, "follow my orders or you're dead weight!" that…I mean geez, who jammed that stick up her ass!? I can get by just fine without some micromanager nagging in my ears!" Milk ranted, almost stomping her foot.
"Mmmmm, I get that it might be a bit annoying…but I'd hardly call it just "having a stick", she's got her reasons for acting the way she does." Jonathan soothed.
"Oh yeah? What, she get off on pushing people around or somethin'?!"
"More that squad discipline is very important to her, especially for making sure everyone comes back safely. Let's just say she's…personally acquainted with just how bad a mission can go when her fellow Nikkes don't listen to her."
"Ah. I-I get it." Milk gently assured him, noting just how serious Jonathan sounded and deciding to just drop the issue. "So, enough of that. What can I get'cha, Pal?"
"I'll have tea and cake please. Do you have any lemon drizzle cake?"
"Yeah, I think so. What sorta tea?"
"How about the best kind?" He winked.
Milk beamed back at him and gave him a gentle, good natured elbow knock.
"You still got great taste, eh Pal. One milk tea and lemon cake comin' up, just wait a bit."
As she sauntered away, a skip in her step and whistle on her lips, Jonathan smiled and shook his head.
One of these days, maybe I'll actually ask for a black tea…the things I do for her.
He sat back in his chair, lacing his hands behind his head, settling in to wait for a while.
Mmmm…so, what to do after the break's over?
Maybe I should visit Eden and Cecil again. Andersen seems like he's gonna move things along without me, so best try getting ahead of the curve.
Yeah, best to as least talk with her once about this, instead of just springing it on-
"Oh, you're here Partner. Great timing."
He was snapped out of his thoughts by Sugar's voice, the Nikke strolling into the cafe with a shopping bag in one hand, and a basket in the other.
"Sugar?" Jonathan's eyes flicked to the shopping bag. "Just getting back from a supply run?"
"And picking up a delivery. For you, as a matter of fact."
"Me?"
"Yep." Sugar set the shopping bag down on the counter, walking over to Jonathan and holding out the basket. He accepted it with a smile.
Oh, what's this?
Curious, he pulled open the top.
Looks like some kind of hamp…er.
Only for curiosity to turn to confusion as he noted all of the carefully wrapped, neatly arranged foodstuffs packed into the basket.
Huh.
Sandwiches, coleslaw, salsa and doritos, croquettes, bite size sausage rolls, a small cheese & meat board, some yoghurts, bottled water…
This looks like a-
"Sugar, why am I being given a picnic hamper?"
"Orders from the Central Government. Apparently this is "a vitally important resource" you need to have."
"Uh….for what?"
"Here you go." Sugar pulled an envelope from her jacket pocket and handed it to him.
"To Commander Jonathan…" he read out loud, before ripping open the envelope.
"For the success of your upcoming mission, take these supplies. I'm sure you'll put them to good use."
Deputy Commander-In-Chief Andersen.
…why would these supplies hel-
Oh.
Was…was this hamper meant to be for a date?!
Oh NO. THIS is what he meant?
"Urrrggghhh…" Jonathan sighed and let his head slump to the table, suddenly feeling a lot more fatigued.
"Uh, you okay there Partner?" Sugar asked, concern written on her face.
"I'll be fine Sugar, thanks for dropping this off." He mumbled, words muffled by the mouthful of tablecloth he didn't care that he'd just taken.
"Here y'are Pal!" Not even Milk's chipper voice could fully rouse the exhausted Commander. "One cup'a- eh, Sugar? What're you doing here?"
"Just dropping off a delivery for Partner, is all. I'm lucky he decided to stop by here today." Sugar said, as Milk approached the table with drink and cake in hand. Peering at the items in her fellow Nikke's possession, the biker couldn't help but raise an eyebrow.
"What?" Milk asked.
"Milk tea, huh?"
"Yep. Only the best tea for my Pal, o'course!" Milk smirked as she set down Jonathan's order. "And yeah, he said that himself too!"
"Oh? Is that right? What happened to you thinking my sugar coffee was the best sort of drink?" Sugar's eyes narrowed just a tad as they flicked back to Jonathan.
"Pffft! No need to go makin' things up, Sugar!" Milk cackled, grinning "I get that the truth hurts sometimes, but c'mon! Set her straight Pa-"
One look at Jonathan's nervous expression had her smile dropping like a stone.
"Pal?"
He didn't look up, merely groaning into the tablecloth.
"Pal."
"Partner."
Finally raising his head, Jonathan found the two Nikkes looming over him.
"Now why would you go and tell us two separate things, eh?" Milk's smile was as brittle as the nearby windowpane, her left eye twitching. "What? D'you not like either of our drinks?"
"And if not…which is your favourite then, mmm?" Sugar looked more curious than upset, but there was still a notable edge to her voice.
Jonathan swallowed.
I really should've just ordered black tea from the start.