Chapter 5: The Picnic
"Ahahaha! You're it, big sis!"
"Oh yeah? Fufufu, you'd better run, or I'm gonna get'cha!"
A smile blossomed on Jonathan's face as he watched Anne and Rupee chase each other through the park, taking care to avoid other laughing kids and their parents in the process.
Nice to see them still having fun together.
He'd thought that after the amusement park, a browsing of Rupee's favourite shops in Royal Road and a nice hearty meal of fish and chips, the pair would be tuckered out and ready to rest, but if anything they'd only gotten more energetic on coming to the park.
Perks of being a Nikke, I guess, you don't need to worry about things like indigestion.
Rubbing at his neck, Jonathan turned his attention to the basket in his right hand, now a little bit heavier than the day before.
Luckily, Milk and Sugar had taken the revelation of his actual favourite drink quite well indeed, since (he suspected) it wasn't either of their types he preferred.
Well Sugar had at least, shrugging it off without much fuss, whereas Milk had had a notable pout on her face until he'd left the cafe, and both of them had insisted on giving him thermoses filled with their personal brews…supplemented nicely by them almost fighting to get their thermos in first.
…well, nobody ever said there weren't downsides to being popular.
Still, guess I can put this to use after all.
Even if it wasn't the intended use.
"Ah, C…Commander Jonathan. Th..thank you for watching out for her." A kindly, yet quite breathless, voice said.
Turning, Jonathan noticed Angelina jogging towards him, a noticeable flush on her cheeks and beads of sweat on her face. Seemed like she'd rushed over here right from her latest shift. Even after dropping a lot of her part-time work thanks to Missilis' compensation package, she still sometimes worked the long shifts at the supermarket when asked.
Guess she just can't say no some of the time. He thought.
"It's no bother. I've got plenty of free time for a while." He assured her, approaching and offering her a shoulder to lean on while she caught her breath.
Angelina smiled gratefully as she leant into him, before offering a small bag in her left hand to him.
"Well, that's nice. Anne is always going on about things you've done or big Raptures you've taken out on missions, so it feels like you've earnt a break and some rest. Ah, speaking of-"
Angelina held up her left hand and offered the small bag it held to Jonathan.
"For me?"
"Yes, consider it a little freebie from work. My supervisor was…quite excited when he found out that I knew the famous Counters Team Commander, and wanted me to give this to you as a token of thanks."
"Huh, really?" Jonathan blushed and rubbed at his neck, but took the bag from her all the same. "I know I've gotten a few things done, but…am I really that famous?"
"Don't sell yourself short like that." Angelina admonished him, gently tapping him on the arm and staring at him intently.
"Stories about Commanders failing expeditions or even dying are, well... quite common compared to success stories, especially stories like yours. You've survived and succeeded at an awful lot of things other Commanders wouldn't be able to make it through, like beating one of those Heretics."
"Heh, I guess you're right about that. It's still not quite sunk in yet, I suppose." Jonathan admitted, smiling softly. "I guess it's a lot more impressive for you all down here, for me it's essentially become everyday life."
"Well, that only makes it more impressive, mmm? To do all those impressive things you do and consider it everyday work." Angelina prodded again.
"Guess so. Thanks." He said, absentmindedly leaning into her.
"You're welcome." Though a blush graced her cheeks, Angelina didn't move away and leant in closer herself, closing her eyes and humming softly.
"Mum! You're here!"
Unfortunately, all good things…
"Hi there, sweetie!" Angelina stepped forward and leant down to let Anne rush up and hug her, squeezing her gently. "Have you been doing well?"
"Yep! I've had tons of fun today with Teacher and big sis Rupee!" Anne cheered.
"Oh really? I'd love to hear about it."
"Yep, yep! Just let me get my journal first, I want to remember all this!"
Pulling off and rummaging through her backpack, Anne eventually produced her journal and a pen, eyes sparkling.
"So, what did you get up to, sweetheart?" Angelina asked.
"Okay! So first, Teacher and Big Sis took me to an amusement park! I went on the merry-go-round first, and then we…"
Anne's voice gradually grew quieter as Angelina walked them both away from Jonathan, eventually fading into the background murmurs. Jonathan watched them go with a smile.
Good thing she was willing to give Anne another shot.
Before he could think about it more, he jumped as a pair of arms wrapped around his shoulders…while a couple of firm objects pressed into his back.
"Heya Sweetie." Rupee's soft and melodious voice wafted into his ear, the Nikke squeezing him into a hug.
"Ah, hey Rupee." Jonathan replied, turning himself gently so he could face her directly.
She loosened her hold just enough to let him finish, then hugged him all over again, still smiling.
"So, what's this for?"
"Eh? I just missed you, is all. I'm not allowed to hug my Sweetie, now?" Rupee asked, pouting and affecting a look of hurt.
"...but you spent the whole day with Anne and I." He pointed out.
"Yeah, but it's…it wasn't just the two of us." Rupee whined, pulling away. "You and Anne are loads of fun, but it's not a crime to want some alone time, is it?"
"Well, I guess not." Jonathan chuckled, reaching forward to gently tap Rupee on the nose. "You're so cute when you're a bit needy."
"I just…..feels like I've not spent much time with you lately, is all. You've been so busy and have all these other Nikkes helping out." This time, it was a half-hearted huff and soft foot stomp. "Why haven't I got some Sweetie time, too?"
"Tell you what, once I'm done with this latest mission from Andersen, you and I can have a meal together. How about that?" He offered, reaching out to squeeze Rupee's shoulder.
Her pout and disbelieving stare lasted another 5 seconds before a blush and smile blossomed in their place.
"Hehehe, that sounds great Sweetie." She mumbled happily, pushing her head into his shoulder and grinning giddily, even giggling to herself.
"And when, exactly, will you be planning on finishing this mission?"
The cold, harsh bark cut across the pleasant atmosphere, sending a shiver up Jonathan and Rupee's spines and forcing them apart. Whirling around, the Commander and Nikke found none other than Andersen standing there, arms folded and brows drawn together.
Just one look at him had Jonathan swallowing hard. He didn't think he'd ever seen his superior look as angry as he did right now, not even when he was reprimanding him and Syuen for their…'publicity stunt' with Matis.
"Ah, S-Sir…w-what are you doing here?" He managed to squeak out.
"I decided to check up on you and see how you were getting along. Imagine my…surprise to learn that here you are, appropriate mission critical supplies for your personal outings."
"H-Huh? What's he mean by that?" Rupee murmured in Jonathan's ear, though he barely heard her over his thundering heart.
Andersen took a step forward, his disapproving glare hardening even more.
"I was willing to give you time to make what I understand is a momentous decision, Commander, but to see you doing this…it seems like your mind is already made up."
"I-I-I promise it's not, sir! It really isn't!" Jonathan pleaded, waving his hands in front of him frantically. "L-Like I said, th-this isn't just something I can decide! A-And besides, this isn't just for me and Rupee!"
Why is he so angry!? I know Ingrid gave me that warning, but is he really THIS invested in this mission?!
"And who is that for, exactly?" Andersen's left eyebrow practically dragged itself up his forehead with how stiff his movements were, hands tightening in their grip on his arms.
"Teacher!"
Jonathan had never felt his body relax as fast as it did when he saw Anne and Angelina approaching them.
"Sorry if we were gone a while, there was just so much to catch up on." Angelina said, smiling at Jonathan. "Thank you so much for taking good care of her, Anne's told me a lot about how nice it is at the Outpost."
"A-Ah. Well, it's the least I can do for her, don't worry about it." Jonathan replied, now starting to calm down as Andersen's focus shifted to the new arrivals.
Noticing Andersen's gaze, Angelina turned to him.
"Ah, hello there, are you a friend of Jonathan's? You look like a fellow Commander. I'm Angelina." She smiled, holding out her hand.
"Andersen, Deputy Commander-In-Chief. Pleased to meet you." He replied, managing to push aside his prior anger in favour of a polite tone and neutral expression….though hints of it still seeped through whenever his gaze flicked back to Jonthan.
"A Deputy Commander? Goodness. What's gotten you to come all the way down here?"
"Actually I'm here to see Commander Jonathan. I wanted to get an update on his progress on…well, a special assignment, which I can't discuss here. Security reasons, I'm sure you understand."
"Oh, of course." Angelina assured him, wiggling her hands defensively. "If you'd like to talk elsewhere, I'm sure we can set up the picnic by ourselves."
"Picnic?" Andersen almost seemed to perk up a little at that.
"Jonathan was kind enough to offer to set up a little picnic for Anne after I got off work." Angelina explained, petting her daughter's hair affectionately.
"I…It sounded like something really fun that families do together." Anne said, tapping her fingers together shyly as she glanced at Andersen.
"Um…my dad might not be here any more, but I've still got mum. And with Big Sis Rupee and Teacher enjoying it too, it feels like…like we're a little family of our own. I-I want to make lots of nice memories to write down, and the thought of that…it's really nice."
Jonathan couldn't stop himself from smiling, even having to wipe away a stray tear.
Looking beside him, he noticed poor Rupee had gone starry eyed and, from her warring expressions and jittery arms, was caught between bursting into happy tears, squealing with joy or sweeping Anne into a hug.
"Yes. That does sound very nice indeed."
Eh?
Did…did he just sound really happy?
Jonathan shifted his gaze to his superior, and couldn't help but gape in disbelief.
He'd never seen the man change moods so fast. All the prior anger and cold, stern professionalism had completely evaporated, replaced instead by a soft, unnaturally warm smile and happy yet proud gaze.
"Oooooh, sweetheart…" Angelina's cooing dragged Jonathan's attention back to her as she hugged Anne tight. "We'll make all the happy memories you want together, I promise."
"Well, here's the hamper, if you need to start without me." He mumbled, blindly offering the basket to Rupee while unable to look away from the sweet scene in front of him.
"That won't be necessary." Andersen cut in, waving a hand in the air. "I think I have what I need. Carry on."
"E-Eh?" Jonathan spluttered, thoroughly lost and confused. "Erm, S-Sir? What about the, er…the mission supplies?"
"It seems they're being put to good use after all."
There was that smile again! And did he look like a happy dad this time!?
"Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm running late to a meeting."
What!?
"If you're late, then why'd you come all the way out here!?" Jonathan couldn't resist the urge to question.
Andersen, however, completely ignored him, turning and striding away to the park entrance. The hapless Commander was left standing dumbly, his outstretched index finger waving uselessly in the air as he tried to process what had just happened.
"I get that that was a little odd, Sweetie-" Rupee tugged on his free arm to bring Jonathan's attention back to her, gently booping his nose with a finger. "-but why bother with worrying about that now when we can all have a nice picnic, yeah? You can think about it later, how about it?"
"Yeah. Yeah, you're right." He smiled at her, petting her on the head. She leaned into it and blushed, but smiled back all the same. "For now, let's eat."