"No… it isn't supposed to be this way… it was never supposed to be this way… I can't go through with this in good faith… forgive me… I'm sorry…"
-So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
2 Corinthians 4:18
—
"Is everything ready for him?" A young lady, showing up only as "Muffin" on a young man's contacts list asked. Pointedly, the short but hairy man reached down to pick up his phone and respond.
"Yup. Everyone at the office is waiting, where're the cupcakes?" The message was sent.
"In the break room fridge… you owe me a lunch break, by the way."
"Consider it done, love. We'll go somewhere nice after work… big bro is scheduled for overtime tonight…"
"Aww… we'll have to make it up to him too, then!"
"Hey, Kaito, enough of the texting, we've got company…" a young black haired man said in a deep but dutiful voice.
"What, is he here yet?" The young hairy man, named Kaito, asked.
"No, we're still waiting on the word… she should be back any minute now though…"
"I hope so… I can't wait to see his face! This is gonna be awesome! And wait until you see what I got him…" Kaito smirked smugly.
"Hah hah… ol' Frankie always loves your gifts, Kaito."
Just then, the doors of the break room opened, thankfully, it was a different employee than this "Frankie" they were waiting for. A young woman with short black hair and a midnight bow tie stuck neatly on top of her head suspiciously glanced one way and then the other before shutting the doors.
"The fox is in the henhouse. I repeat, the fox is in the henhouse!" She announced. Hushed sounds of excitement and sharp whispers cluttered the room, Kaito in particular could barely contain himself. He knew that the second he opened those wooden barriers, he would immediately jump out and give him the world's biggest hug. Perfect for reaching that quarter century milestone.
The black bowed lady sat herself next to another female employee, waiting patiently for those doors to crack wide open and "release the kraken", so to speak. A minute passed, then two, then three… then a tiny squeaking sound could be heard. Everyone held their breath and the room fell dead silent. And as that tall and slightly broad, decently, but not too much- chubby in the belly region, tan skinned, black haired, slightly baby faced man walked in for a drink of water before the start of his shift…
"SURPRISE!" The startled young man let out a sharp gasp as the dark room was suddenly illuminated by a cacophony of celebratory jeers, cracking poppers and a giant tackle hug from his comparatively tiny little brother.
"Happy birthday, big bro!" Kaito exclaimed as he squeezed tightly around young Frankie, who was still in a shock, slowly coming to an awkward, but honestly pleasant smile before wrapping himself around his brother's embrace.
"O-oh- h-hey…" Frankie said to the group as he was breathing heavily with that same sort of exasperated but mostly touched expression on his face.
"Well, it was mostly Kaito's-" The tall black haired man began to speak.
"And Miko's!" The black haired woman snapped back.
"Uh… yeah, both of their idea, to set this all up for your, 25th, was it?"
"Y-yeah, 25th…" Frankie responded, Kaito still clinging to him tightly.
"Well, that's a big goal you just passed, hon! You get to pay for your own insurance now, pay your own bills, and really start putting away a retirement fund!" The black bowed woman let out.
"You are so not from this generation…" the black haired man responded dryly, earning a glare from the woman.
"Well I'm sure Frankie's gonna wanna save the partying for the weekend! We still got a bit before his shift, so for now… let's eat!" A red haired woman from the back shouted as she hurriedly pulled out a batch of freshly baked birthday cake flavored cupcakes with chocolate whipped cream frosting. Heavenly bliss!
Ten minutes had passed and everyone was trying to start up conversations with Frankie. He was clearly happy and appreciative to the point of tears, but… well, he wasn't exactly one for long drawn out talks, even now, as people were making an effort to try and talk with him, Frankie would politely bow in appreciation, or be caught up in conversations that would go like this;
"Hey, Frank, got any big plans for the weekend? Go somewhere with the fam, go out to the club, a bit of dancing? I know a few places round here if you don't mind the drive."
"Mm-mm…" Frankie would respond.
"Hah, Frank, sometimes I forget how young you really are…! But hey! Don't get too comfortable, you'll be catching up to us soon enough!"
Frankie would laugh politely but earnestly in response, unsure of what to say.
Even some of the co-workers he wasn't familiar with, those he never had a chance to really talk to and assume things right off the bat, both parties would just awkwardly glance towards each other in appreciation. Neither too sure of the others' personality to know how to act properly.
It was all common practice on the floor, the people he quite literally worked close to knew that well enough. Sometimes they would get him to go off, but that would have to pertain to a special interest of his or on the basis of a confusing situation. It made him easy enough to work with, at the very least, just leaving things more awkward than they had any right to be. There was… one very notable exception, however.
"So, Frankie… I know you have to work a little later tonight, but Miko and I really wanna give you a chance to start off these next 25, so how about tomorrow we go out and eat? Your choice, my treat! I don't expect you to pay for Miko, after all!" Kaito exclaimed.
"Tell me about it… that girl can pack in so many calories that she can make a malnourished brachiosaurus in the late Jurassic period blush." Frankie jokingly responded. Kaito laughed it off and grabbed a cupcake and some milk before continuing his conversation.
"So what are you in the mood for? Steak? Seafood? Comfort food? Mexican?"
"Aye… I can make Mexican food any day of the week. Coulda sprung for a taco man and I would've been satisfied."
"Haha… figured… well if you need more time to think it over, don't be afraid to give me a ring when it does come to you, okay?"
"Oh don't you worry, that thought won't slip my mind!" Both brothers chuckled lightly as they continued to eat. Then, Kaito bounced up a bit in his chair.
"That's right! I almost forgot!" He said with a mouthful of food, swallowing before rummaging through his bag and pulling out a beautiful red and gold box with a green present bow on it. "I… may or may not have put that metal detector to good use up on the beach, and… well… I wasn't about to let some cheap thrift store give it to some hockey puck for a pretty penny… TOO pretty of a penny."
"W-what is it?" Frankie asked as he examined and took the box from his brother.
"Well, open it up and see for yourself, you dork! But… let's just say the moment I laid eyes on it… I immediately thought of you."
Frankie opened up the box, and unveiling what was inside made his eyes widen. Glowing a deep emerald green, nestled up in its own indented alcove, was a cross. A beautiful shimmering cross. It was quite a bit thicker than the kind he was so used to seeing at home, and the edges weren't nearly jutting out far enough… but it was a sight to behold in its own right.
"Oh Kaito… I love it… thank you baby bro…" Frankie immediately hugged Kaito as tight as he could while Kaito hugged back.
"Anytime, big brobro, you deserve it." He responded "So, when you get home you could either hang it up or keep it at your bedside… I know you've been wanting one for that."
"Kaito… it's perfect… thank you… thank you so much… and dinner too? Are you okay?"
"Big bro, as long as you're happy, I'm perfectly fine." Kaito said with a warm smile, walking out the door, as it was time for him to clock back in.
Frankie smiled as he watched him leave and immediately looked back to his cross, still shimmering its deep dark green color… then it flashed a brighter green all of a sudden. He felt his heart skip a beat as he examined it further… it never did shimmer like that again, just stayed its normal emerald color. Though he could swear he heard the faintest of whirrs and hums coming from it… and it was warm to the touch as well… he was curious, but it had to wait. He had a long day of work ahead of him. One thing was for sure, this would most certainly get him through it.
—
The moon had risen and Frankie was the last at his desk. He kept updating his boss, who had already gone home for the night, with updates on the databases he was filling in. Pretty and organized, the big man was satisfied and let him know he had one final one to complete before he could at last head home for the night and enjoy his birthday weekend. With a smile on his face and in his chest, Frankie put some finishing touches on the database and…
"=SUM, drag down and…" with one click of the mouse, the spreadsheet was finished. "Yes!" He whispered proudly to himself before saving it and sending the file to his boss and shutting down the computer at last, cracking his neck in exhaustion as he looked down at his cross once more. Anything out of the ordinary stopped, so all he could do was smile.
He sat back in his chair and took it out of its box for one good look and a job well done.
"Hah… oh Kaito… you know me so well…" he said to himself as he turned the cross to either side, getting a good look at all the angles.
That was when the cross shimmered that bright green color again. Frankie's smile turned to a grimace of confusion and curiosity as he brought it closer to his face. It shimmered once more, causing him to flinch and look away from the bright light, opening one eye did he see the shimmer grow faster and faster until the bright green light completely took over the original dark mystic emerald of the cross's original color. The hums and whirs coming from it grew louder and louder as it lifted up into the sky, causing him to fall over and scramble to his feet as he watched what, to put lightly, was something he didn't see every day. The shimmering cross illuminated itself in a great flash of white, forcing him to look away and shield his eyes. When he felt the bright white had vanished, he slowly blinked his eyes back open and was amazed, and even a little frightened by what he saw.
It was a woman, with fiery red hair cut into a bob, a… not very dress code appropriate black, red, and green attire, fingerless gloves, steel clad boots that matched her outfit, and… what could only be described as a cape of… some sort. She was standing right in front of him as she opened her eyes to reveal them to be a warm Ruby red, just like the rest of her. She smiled sweetly at him once she saw who he was.
"A pleasure to meet you, sir. My name is Pyra. I am your Blade, and you, are my Driver." She said with a polite bow.
