Catch-22: The Group Meeting
By: M14Mouse
Summary:
Disclaimer: Don't own them.
"So, Teddie is a shadow that came from the tv world," Morgana said in confusion from his perch on top of the sofa.
The group was scattered between the kitchen and living room. Theo looked overenjoyed in serving everyone's snacks and drinks. Yu was glad that Theo was feeling more like his old self. he had been worried about him.
"How did that work?!" Ryuji shouted from his spot at the kitchen table.
"Man, we have no idea. He just showed up one day," Kanji said.
"…Right in the middle of Junes," Yosuke said with a sigh.
"Yup, keep talking how bored he was waiting for us," Chie added.
"Was it was a good idea to leave Teddie with Haru and Lila?" Ann asked.
"Are you sure that it is a good idea to leave Teddie and Lila with Haru?" Makoto amended.
"I'm sure the girls will be fine. In fact, I think Teddie will learn a few things," Yu said with a grin.
Yosuke rolled his eyes.
"You are way to calm about this, partner."
"So, that is a normal thing? Because I have been trying to catch him off his game for weeks," Futaba asked.
"Yup. Good luck with that. Fall into strange world? Cool as a damn cucumber. Meet a strange bear? Nope, he says that he like the guy. Teddie's head falls off? Just puts it back like it was nothing," Yosuke said with a sigh.
"You sound still upset about that," Yu said amusedly.
Chie snickered next to him.
"Man, that is why Yu is our fearless leader. Nothin' gets to him," Kanji said.
"Wait a minute…Teddie's head fell off?!" Makoto said in a slight panic.
"He was empty inside of the suit," Yosuke said.
"Our running theory is that he sorted of grew a human inside his suit," Chie said with a laugh.
His students just stared at Chie like she grew a second head.
"Grew a human?!" Ann said in shock.
"So, does that mean Lila grew a human?" Makoto said in a mix of confusion and horror.
"No, I don't think so. She had enough human qualities to start with. The more contact that she had with us, the more she developed her own sense of self. Of course, the magazines Ann kept giving her helped as well," He said with a smile to his student.
Ann scratched the back of her hair and gave him a sheepish look.
"Sorry?" Ann said.
"Don't be. She was more prepared for the human world than Teddie. I'm impressed that she remembered clothes."
"Ted didn't remember that part at all," Yosuke said.
"Be glad that you didn't have to dress him," Chie mumbled.
"Man, I thought that the little black one would come first. He is attached to your side like Teddie was," Kanji pointed out.
"That is right! Pay up!" Chie said as she thrust her hand toward Kanji and Yusuke.
"I told you that Black Frost is shy. A world fill with loud, noisy people? I probably could get him five feet before he finds a bench to hide under," Yu said with a frown.
Or cling to him for dear life.
"So, who won the bet? I remember you and Chie…." Yosuke said with a sigh.
"Naoto too!" Chie said with a grin.
Kanji and Yosuke sighed.
"No wonder he is unflappable. His life is weirder than ours. I'm never going to catch him off guard. You guys didn't even flip out when you heard Morgana talk for the first time," Futaba said with a sigh.
"Yu kind of warned us about Morgana," Yosuke said.
"No offense to you guys but Teddie kind of numbed us to weird shit," Kanji pointed out.
"You can continue to try. We love to hear stories from our fellow persona users. The tv world isn't that exciting anymore and trust me when I say that is a good thing. You should ask Yu and Aegis about their missions. They have some pretty wild ones," Chie said.
"Aegis…isn't she the shadow hunting robot that Makoto told me about?" Ren said.
"She is more human now than robot. She was Yu's partner for a bit until his scary boss lady sent him here," Yosuke said.
"She isn't that bad," Yu said.
His friends stared at him like he was crazy.
"I saw his boss on tv. Yup, she is scary," Ryuji said.
"Agreed."
"Uh huh."
Yu just shook his head.
"I do have a question. How did Theo get you to hold off on coming? I was mildly impressed when he told me that," He asked.
"Your assistant can guilt trip people like no one's business," Chie pointed out.
"He gave a speech that we of all people should understand what you guys are going through," Yosuke said.
"Man, you forgot to add…Ladies and Gentlemen, what would Master want you to do in this situation?" Kanji mumbled.
"Oh…don't forget about our responsibilities to the tv world," Chie added.
"And our responsibilities to our community and families. Theo knows how to lay it on thick, partner. Almost like my mom," Yosuke said.
Yu's eyes wandered to Theo who was busying himself in the kitchen.
Well done, Theo.
"Okay…enough about Theo guilt tripping us. I want to know…what is Yu's outfit? Is it outrageous like yours? Ooo…he is a gangster, isn't he? Ooo…A MOB BOSS! You totally look like a mob boss" Chie said happily at her guesses.
"You are really into that line of thought," He commented mildly.
"No, Sensei's outfit is subtle. Without the hat, glasses, and cane, he looks like he is in one of his business suits," Ren said thoughtfully.
"Glasses, dude? Really? Again?" Yosuke said to him.
"Can't seem to lose the glasses," He said with a grin.
"His outfit remind me of European and the States 1920 era clothing. Very formal," Makoto said.
"Very Sensei," Yusuke affirmed with a nod.
"I agree. I didn't think that he would have a flashy outfit like us. It isn't really in Sensei's nature," Morgana said.
"Oh?" Yu asked with the tilt of his head.
He was kind of curious where Morgana was going with this.
"Your outfit is how you view yourself as a thief. Sensei isn't flashy. He's shown that he's able to blend in no matter what the Palace is.. Perhaps that make him as dangerous as Joker. And the fact that he moves like a ninja and pops up in the most random places? Sensei is more like a traditional thief. How do you do that by the way?" Morgana added.
"A ninja never reveals his secrets," Yu said in a deadpan voice.
Chie and Kanji started cracking up and Yosuke tried really hard not to laugh. Their laughter spread to the others in the group and soon everyone was laughing. Yu grinned before addressing Morgana again.
"That is a very good observation," He said.
Morgana was positively beaming.
"Okay…enough shoptalk! I want the dirt on Support Buddy!" Futaba said eagerly.
"You are really obsessed with that line of thought," Yusuke pointed out. She stuck her tongue at him.
"If you all don't mind, I would still like to continue with more shoptalk.. Even after reading about it, the tv world sounds interesting," Makoto pressed, smoothing out her skirt some.
"Even with Yu talking about it, your world sounds wild as well. Did you guys really see walking ATMs; because damn that blows my mind," Yosuke asked.
"More than the bathhouse?" Chie pointed out.
"Uhh…never mind."
"Urgh…do we have to talk about that," Kanji grumbled.
"Before we get into that discussion, I will be leaving you all for a short time. I'm heading to London. You will still be able to get in contract with me and Theo during that time, but please, make note of the time difference," Yu stressed, already imaging the incessant buzzing of his phone from them forgetting
After the chorus of why…ahh…man…okay, Morgana spoke.
"You are going to take down that palace."
"Yes, Naoto's tenure there is ending soon, she is needed in the States, and we can't leave it unchecked."
"I could come and help you," Morgana said.
He smiled at Morgana.
"You are very kind to offer, and it would be a good experience for you, but I believe that you are needed here. You all are close to deciding your next palace, correct? Your guidance is imperative."
He saw a flash of something across Morgana's face. He looked over at Ren, who then nudged Morgana.
"We need you. You are like our compass," Ren said.
"Right!" Ann said happily.
Morgana blushed.
"You guys….."
"Awww…kitty is blushing," Chie said with a wink.
"I AM NOT!"
Suddenly, the door burst open with Teddie sporting the biggest grin..
"Gentlemen and Hot…."
Two coughs from the hallway made Teddie pause.
"Gentlemen and Ladies…I present to you…The best sister in the entire world and the ultimate hot…."
Two more coughs came from the hallway.
"Did they just train Teddie?" Kanji said in amazement.
"I know, right?!" Chie said in shock.
"I don't care. We are bringing her home," Yosuke said.
"Too late," Yu said with a grin.
"The best sister in the world and incredibly beautiful as well! Plusssss…" Teddie said before something grabbed his arm and pulled him back into the hallway. There was whispering and something about shoes before Teddie came back into the doorway.
"With the help of my lovely assistant, Haru…."
Haru stepped from the hallway into the apartment. She had the biggest smile on her face and was giggling. He smiled softly. It is good to see her happy.
"We would like to present Lila," She said with a bow.
"The best secretary in the world!" Teddie said excitedly.
Lila stepped from the hallway into the doorway.
She was wearing a white knee length skirt and long sleeve jacket. On the left collar there was a red rose pin that he would bet was Teddie's doing. Her black hair was pulled back into a bun with two fuzzy pencils holding it together. Somehow or another, they found a pair of white fuzzy earrings to match.
He was impressed that Lila could walk in those high heel shoes. It took Teddie ages to do that.
"You look so pretty," Ann said happily as she got up from her place. The whole group started to move toward the trio by the door.
"Kanji and Chie, a moment, please?" Yu said.
The pair turned to him.
"Yo, what's up?" Kanji said.
"Yes?" Chie said.
"I'm going to need your help."
"Oh, with what?" Chie asked.
"I'm going to need help with my weapons."
End of The Group Meeting
Next Chapter: The Weapons of Choice
A/N: Our fandom normally focuses on Yosuke/Yu quite a bit. One thing that I promise myself that I would do when I started this fic was to make sure everyone on the IT was present and some part in the story. I have been getting a few reviews saying that timeline is confusing. I would like to know where. So, my beta and I can fix it. I don't want you guys confused! I can neither confirmed nor deny anything. :D
Anyway, thank you for the reviews, kudos, favorites, etc.