I did another friendship omake. With some ship tease for my 'revenge'.
Well, technically omakes. There various 'scenes' as it were.
I already had some written out or planned but I kinda had to cut some things off or summarize others since once the banter or scenes started it wouldn't stop, despite not seeming that way. Left some prompts for another time too.
Except the last one though, that just flowed spontaneously. Was supposed to be just about David and Motoko parkouring across the city with some Hiromi commentary.
Speaking of:
Just in case, the last one has some friendly fighting, ala Malcolm and Ichi, so if you don't want some drama you can skip that one.
Not much else to say, hope you enjoy and that the length isn't a bother? Ah right, some povs are biased.
Cyber Ninjas Make Great Friends
Her feet splashed idly in the water as she watched David complete another lap with mixed feelings.
Figured he'd be good even at this.
On one hand it was kinda disgusting how quickly he seemed to pick things up. It wasn't that long ago that he was all elated at how he could register for extra courses now that he had enough eddies. First one he picked was the Arasaka Advanced Athletics course and she had thought he would have lasted at most, and this had been her most generous thought, a month before he quit and went back to trying something else out.
Should have known with David. He was all punk, from his appearance to his attitude. He lived to contradict, he and his mother both, so of course he couldn't just be naturally smart, the ass had to be talented at athletics too.
So now here they were, at an Arasaka Academy affiliated gym, using it instead of the very much occupied Academy property. Which brought her to the other side of the Eddie that she could at least, very briefly, admit in the privacy of her own mind. She was happy for him just like she was happy when any of her chooms pulled a complicated op in Sec 9 or when her resume got a well deserved meaningful update.
"You finally gonna get it off your chest choom?"
She blinked, glancing down to see David leaning his head against his crossed arms on the ledge of the pool next to her thighs, looking up at her with a curious expression.
Her eyebrow rose.
"The reason we're here and you're just staring out into the water instead of actually swimming."
"The very intimidating swim club members were practicing for the meet against the other academies." She deadpanned making sure to add enough subtext for the implied 'you idiot' for his thick head. Just in case.
He stared at her for a moment before he pushed up the ledge to seat himself beside her with a sigh. "Hard way it is then."
Her brow furrowed.
"What's got you moping this time?"
"Nothing."
"Uh-huh."
"Nothing," she repeated with a frown and a glare.
He ignored her, of course he did. "Who did Ghost talk to this time?" His hands rose to his mouth in faux shock, "Oh sorry, I mean flirt."
"We are not having this conversation." She deadpanned as she stood up, throwing him a glance over her shoulder as she half turned to leave, "Try not to stare."
"At what?"
Her response was automatic, using her stil turning body she used the momentum to instead spin into a kick aimed at his head.
She blinked.
He smirked.
…And then leaned just the tiniest bit back with her calf still in his hand.
"Wait David-!"
Her voice came out in an embarrassing squeak but at least she managed to close her lips before water came into her mouth.
She glared at him as she wrung her hair out then made sure to flip it his way. Her glare grew when he easily stepped back with a single foot and dodged her justified attempt at revenge.
"You got my hair wet."
"I'll make it up to you," He shrugged, adjusting the sling of his bag on his shoulder, "Cooled down your depression enough?"
"You're not funny."
He sighed again, like she was in the wrong. David's arm threw itself around her shoulders and the only reason she didn't punch him in his side was because it brought a buried question to mind. One she had been meaning to ask him when she first saw him doing laps.
"Where did these come from?" She poked his forearm and then his side while their pace synched with the others' as they headed towards the exit. Hopefully emphasizing her point and cutting short the argument she knew he would start up for kicks.
"...They're my arms?"
She thought too soon. "The muscles you idiot!" She huffed at him, "Did you get chipped in?"
"Hiromi." He started slowly and she narrowed her eyes at him in warning at his tone, "You gain muscles as you exercise. Not everything is chrome or bioware."
"Besides, you don't pay that well." He shrugged with his free arm dismissively.
"Not this fast!" She paused. "And I so do!"
He shrugged. "Only thing I've taken are those weird protein shakes Sensei gives in the athletics course."
Did they give those out in there? She never heard about that.
"You're treating me to food in Little Europe."
"Fine, fine-"
"One fine is enough, idiot!"
"- You can spill your overblown sorrows over food,"
"They're not overblown," she grumbled, "They're totally justified."
She blinked and then preemptively glared at the side of his head. David meanwhile kept his head turned forward but did nothing to hide his smirk. She was sure he even angled it a bit more towards her.
"...You're telling me about those shakes in exchange."
"Sure." He accepted easily with another shrug.
The door slammed open and she was glad she listened to Motoko to have this model installed. It made it more personal when needed in critical times, like now, as she entered the room before stomping over to the comfortable couch and flopping down.
"No, please," David spoke up from his spot on the floor in front of said couch, leaning into the table as he set down his pad and turned around, "Just make yourself at home."
"This is my building." She snapped at him before she blinked at him.
"Still my room choombatta." His tone became even drier as he leaned his head into his hand, "You gave me this thing yourself. You transfered rights of this room to me. All of them."
"It doesn't work that way, moron." She dismissed easily. "When did you get your ear pierced?"
"Someone hasn't read the contract," He shot her a smile, all amused, and before she could wonder about that she blinked as he visibly perked up, pushing himself away from the low table. "This? Sensei gave it to me as a gift. For ranking up so quickly."
She blinked once more at the joy present in his tone. "You have ranks?"
"Lots," he nodded before angling the side of his head to her, putting his long dangling piercing on display, "Pretty 'preem, right? Sensei's got good taste."
She had to admit, it suited him for some strange reason but she decided to push that aside to answer a more pressing question."...Are you sure you're in the athletics course?"
"Hiromi," he very visibly and slowly rolled his eyes at her and she was amused at his reaction to ignoring his showing off, "You were there when I signed up and you've seen me go in."
"It's weird is all."
He shrugged, "So is you doing this little walk around every time but here we are."
Her mouth opened to object but he interrupted her justified explanation-
"Again."
She pursed her lips, arms crossing as she leaned back into the couch as she watched him cooly.
"So-"
"Ahem."
She really did glare at him then. First he bitched about her not talking and now he wouldn't even let her!
David pointedly tilted his head at her.
"You have got-" She cut herself off with a sigh before letting out her next words as an even bigger sigh. "Your piercing's nova." Then continued just because, ignoring his mood entirely, "Wasted on a gonk like you."
"I'm going to ignore your snippiness because, one, I'm the better person," She fake gagged but true to his words he ignored her entirely. Since when did he have such control of himself? She was sure that would have easily gotten a reaction from him before, "Two, you're still obviously mad at whatever brought you here in this mood."
"I'm not-!"
He continued over her, leaning back on his forearms at the table behind him, "I mean you didn't even acknowledge the room comment."
"There's nothing to acknowledge, this building is mine." She flicked her fingers at him dismissively as she stretched out on her side with one arm propping her head up. "Just like the Dojo and Gym. That I made sure to make as nova for Motoko. Not some mafia princess that keeps showing up to-"
"Right then," David interrupted her, again, as he stood to his feet, "I'll get some tea because clearly you were already irritated before your jealousy got poked."
"I'm not-!"
"By the way Hiromi-" "Will you quit speaking over me!"
"Who's grades are better?" Goddamn latino ass continued, not even turning to look at her as he headed towards the countertops in-
She blinked.
He then threw a smirk over his shoulder at her, somehow knowing when to turn exactly.
She blinked for what felt like the twentieth time before scrambling up and over his couch.
"What did you-"
"Have you tried this thing called reading-"
"Will you quit that already!"
"I have no idea what all of Sec 9 objections' are." David said as he twisted his body sideways, moving his arms in tandem with his motions before bending himself forward and backwards surprisingly easily, his piercing flowing with each movement, "It's kinda like a long sleeved and less advanced version of my usual training suit."
He lowered himself to the floor before raising his body upwards with just his hands, twisting his abdomen and legs in sync. "Bit shorter around the thighs tho'."
He tucked his legs under him as he laid his feet flat on the floor and rose in a smooth motion. "The Neo-Militarism style isn't really on point but I suppose even Ghost can't have everything be perfect, even her tastes."
"Those are subjective." She defended her oldest friend, finally speaking up from where she was seated at the large common room idly watching him. The currently missing rest of Section 9 nowhere to be seen as they were all over the city.
"Not that subjective."
She glared at him lightly then. Not that it did anything other than make him huff at her in amusement as he took a seat opposite of her, propping his bare feet up on an empty chair as he stretched his white pant cladded legs.
"Didn't even try to humor her?"
"Not one bit." She threw her arms over the back of her couch, smiling at the memory, as she got comfortable. "You men are too self conscious about the silliest things sometimes."
His raised brow complete with a tilt of his head showed her exactly what he thought about that even if his then amused little gesturing roll of his hand over his leaned muscled body didn't make it obvious.
"I'm kinda surprised, in all honesty. I thought you would bitch more."
His mouth opened but paused, causing her brow to raise this time. His explanation came surprisingly swiftly for him.
"Fair," he started, "Probably would have. Maybe I did at some point. Though kinda hard to say when the early training and sparring blend in together."
"Still can't believe you bumbled your way into a CyberNinja program."
He shrugged but she could tell the pride he had underneath the gesture before he leaned over. Picking up his pad and starting to work.
"So what about you?"
"Huh?"
"How'd she react to your outfit? I mean the ones Sensei gave are more nova than this one so I'll keep using those if I really have to use something like this. Not just because of the more color options available either but how did Motoko react to your Sec 9 getup?"
"..."
David looked up at the silence as she inspected a suspicious bit of wall. Did Malcolm and Motoko try to cover up damage again? Or was it Sasha and Rebecca playing around? Maybe she-
"Oh wow, that's rich."
"It's different!" Hiromi snapped defensively back at him, her sudden twisting motion causing her hair to fly around her face. Not fast enough to block even a moment of his too amused smile, unfortunately for her heating cheeks.
He hummed but then simply turned back to his pad. He even picked up the electronic pencil and started to write as if nothing happened.
She stared at that. Then blinked mentally a few times when he didn't follow up with anything a few minutes later.
Even her mounting suspicion had to be suppressed sometime as her mind eventually focused on something else, in this case the resources to upgrade their vehicle pool due to the growing variety-
"Surprised you didn't at least wear it once so she could fawn over you wearing a leotard and you two matching or something along those lines." David's voice spoke up easily, conversationally, like one remarking about which road was closed because of an accident.
Took him enough-
"..."
Her thoughts crashed and burned as she processed his words. The mixture of emotions rising up from within her did nothing to clear her jumbled mind.
"...Goddamn-!"
"Can you be awful at something?"
David turned his amused eyes sideways and down to the lightly pouting Hiromi.
"Aren't you being dramatic?"
"David, you're acing this class. Like the others."
Now he did roll his eyes at her, a common enough thing, since it figured she was going to be dramatic about this. Hiromi's common sense always seemed to short circuit when it came to be even tangentially related to Motoko.
So he drew in all his patience, both his naturally built one from the years of living in Night City and the one his terrifying Sensei built with her lessons.
"We've literally just started Hiromi."
"And yet-"
"How about you focus on the end result with Motoko instead of what you think you're doing wrong. 'Kay?"
Saying so he took his own pan from his flame, making sure it seemed close enough to what the Virtual Instructor showed beforehand before shrugging in an easy acceptance. They weren't using anything close to organic or expensive but it sure was a hell of a lot more than he usually saw in person. More importantly it let them practice all they wanted too.
He was amused though, a common thing with Hiromi and her attitude. If he really could do everything the way Hiromi seems to think then he was sure that Sasha would stop bothering about him becoming a NETrunner. He already showed his lack of skills and interest in that front.
"Ah~," His choom sighed happily and seeing her distracted state he quickly took her pan away from the fire as she went into her own little daydream, "Motoko getting that warm cooked meal she was so desperate about~."
"She mumbled it in a distracted manner before finishing her meal and sprinted off to her robotics lab."
He could feel her glare but he didn't turn, he was more occupied trying to make the sauce for the recipe and finishing up. It wasn't anything Shinobi related but his Sensei expected discipline and effort in all things and she would take it out on their next training sessions if he messed up.
And she would find out about it, somehow.
He suppressed a shudder. He was infinitely more afraid of her than Hiromi or Jun when he thought he was flirting with the Ghost or even Motoko herself when she got that shine in her eyes that told him her kill count was going to update itself in the double digits.
And he thought Becca was elated on raids.
"David…" A pitiful whine reached his ears and he turned to see Hiromi with a spoon in her mouth, looking at her finished dish forlornly and him, back to back.
Good thing his pay was supernova. Well that and the company he now had, it at least made his life, and more importantly his mother's, much better than before.
With a sigh he brought his own spoon into her food and in his mouth."...I think you mixed the salt with sugar?"
His side muffled her despairing groan as she buried her face in it, her hands grasping his apron and bunching the uniform underneath.
"You know Hiromi, normally I don't mind your moods but don't you think you're exaggerating right now?"
It was true too. If this happened way more often instead of sparingly it would be more annoying for him and he would probably try to stage an intervention with Misty.
The little corpo princess in question, mechanically turned her head towards him. Her empty stare would have probably caused him to flinch if he had known her less or even if it was the him before he started to do business with his choom but now all it provoked was an internal sigh.
Clearly she wasn't in any mood for their usual banter.
"I have no idea what you mean, Martinez." She let out tonelessly.
" 'Course ya don't." He said drily, his briefly head turning to see where Nox, Hayate and some Street Kids from various affiliations were fluttering around Motoko. All with fond expressions on their faces to varying degrees and absolutely heedless of the glares coming from Hiromi from one side of the room and Jun from the other. It probably didn't help the latter that Akari seemed to be egging him on.
His fellow Cyber Ninja meanwhile talked animatedly about what was probably going to be another new side gig or business venture for them. Expression joyous and most likely charming the love struck ones all the more.
His gaze turned back towards Hiromi and he made sure to cross his arms over his sleeveless white Shinobi undersuit as he raised a pointed eyebrow her way while he tilted his head to the side to gesture at the space between her and the object of her not so secret affection. His Sense's gift that he felt moving helped add to his point, or at least he was sure it did.
"I'm fine!" She snapped at him, although quietly.
So there was some truth to her words. Still not enough.
"I'm sure." Then just to make his point he uncrossed one of his hands to lazily gesture at the table they were leaning against with an open hand where Ghost's housecat sized Tachikoma were.
Specifically Hiromi's personalized model that was gesturing animatedly towards the distant group, bouncing upon their little deployed wheels while all its little spider arms curved upwards with their claws balled up in an angry gesture.
Meanwhile his own tilted it's head innocently at its' fellow robot before turning towards the distant group and back, numerous times.
"...It's harmless."
Naturally, her Tachi chose that moment to raise itself onto two of its hindlegs, then using two of its free hands to point judiciously towards the group with a single finger outstretched before drawing the last two free hands across its little 'neck' in opposite directions before dramatically holding said pose.
"..."
"..."
David felt himself blink slowly before turning his head equally slowly towards Hiromi. Seeing her transfixed on the sight before her eyes as her face gained a frankly atomic blush that rivaled the red skies his mother always told him about and he could vaguely remember.
He couldn't help himself ."Hiromi-"
"Shut up! Idiot! Jerk!" Said girl spouted off in rapid fire Japanese, face still red and trying to block his view of her Tachikoma and how she was trying to get it to return to a normal pose while both of their little robots tilted their heads in question at her.
Heh, how cute.
Not like it was gonna save her.
"You're corrupting the children, Hiromi." He made sure to deadpan in such a way his mother would scold him, complete with a light slap too.
Her choked breath was music to his ears. As was her still red face as her shoulder slumped over her Tachi, petting it while she mumbled at it as it calmed down. His saner Tachi just shook its head slowly before miming a sigh with raised arms.
Pity he couldn't savor the scene some more.
"Ay Dios mio." He mumbled under his breath.
"...Do I wanna know…?"
"Jun's Tachi somehow got hold of two knives and is slowly walking sideways towards them."
Akari's lethal wide grin as she spectated and seemed to be blocking her fellow gangoon's view certainly didn't help.
So I don't normally put warnings or anything but thought I should just in case, since I don't want to accidentally kick off a ten page debate or something.
They're tired, angry teens. Not a good day for some. They snap at each other and spoiler, make up.
David's thoughts kinda spiral a bit due to, backstory. Also spoiler, he gets better.
"Your routes are Nova as always, Ghost."
"Thanks!" Motoko perked up a bit from that, wiping away the light sheen of sweat on her face, as if it was actually some sort of effort for her, "And I told you you can call me Motoko!"
That she did but today wasn't going to be said day. He could practically hear her borged up brother stomp his way over to them like he usually did when they returned from their runs across the city. Having his little sister return beaming with a light sheen of sweat and just a bit breathless from their solo runs, or rather her solo runs with a guy, apparently riled him up like no other. Who knew?
It wasn't their fault he couldn't keep up along their unconventional routes. Still he defaulted to his usual answer when he noticed she was still waiting. "Sure, next time."
She beamed at him with one last wave and cheery farewell and he still had to blink away the whiplash from her moods. Given that this was the same girl that ran through Night City like she instinctively knew every single optimal path and was prone to beam brightly to everyone initially.
Until you pissed her off just right and then her expression deadened just like the probably soon to be corpse that caused it, and he wasn't talking about no suits.
She was still a nova, maybe friend (?), person to hang with and he sure as Night City's constant ads learned a lot with her. Whether it was from observing her on missions, their runs or from her BD's. He could always pick something up when he looked for it and applied it in his own manner.
Both his Sensei have certainly been prouder at him lately, they had even said if he continued they would give him his own Shinobi legacy tattoo soon.
A small, simple one to start with but still.
He smiled to himself as he finished stretching and exited the room, making sure to close off their entry window as he left it. His happy thoughts continued even when he 'heard' the previously mentioned 'borg closing in and he mindlessly slipped into a farther away route.
Lynx paws silenced the user's steps, he remembered his sensei lecture, but there were workarounds to that even if he did have to pay a hell lot more attention to specific things. Naturally she crammed said knowledge into his head, both theoretical and practical like she was prone to do in an effective, if painful way.
Which brought him to his previously silenced thoughts rising up from before the run. The ones worrying about the ranking up exam five days from now and his desire to pass when it was his turn, and relax in the coming days up to it.
Motoko noticed. She was situationally observant like that and took him out to a nice long run giving him a pep talk and advice all the while he memorized her words and actions. He was still kinda wondering where he was at with her, friend and business wise. She didn't seem to mind her friendly behavior towards him but that was just a general rule for Motoko and he wouldn't say he was as close to her as the original members of Sec 9 were. To be fair he was closer to Hiromi and Rebecca, who were his closest's friends in the city, bar none.
The rest were 'preem just…it was noticeably different with them?
He shook his head from his spiraling thoughts, actively listening again before taking another route he was sure wouldn't let him cross paths with the moody Oni. He was fine on most days but the Tyger Claw gangoon sure did get defensive about his little sister. As if she couldn't muirder anyone with an external agent that didn't take no for an answer.
Something about today put him on edge though so better safe then sorry. He wasn't in a mood for fights, more so with teammates.
He idly wondered if he should be flattered before shaking that absurd thought away. Logic was never in place with those types of emotions. He had probably become something of an expert in said subject after having Hiromi mope around him enough with her melodramatics and she wasn't a borderline cyberpsycho being murderblocked by his little sister at every turn.
David made sure to actively slip into his breathing exercises as he slowed his pace. Sure he was in the safe zone, allowing his adrenaline fueled analysis to die down as he reigned himself in. His calm wasn't to last however because with the adrenaline went the numbing feeling and his sore body and exhausted mind made themselves known with a vengeance.
Maybe he should have started taking it easier a couple of days earlier?
He had trained for a brief final spurt intensively before this day, his run with Motoko being his final intense activity before he began cooling grace period. He had then planned to rest for a few days before picking up some light exercises just before the set day.
He was more exhausted both bodily and mentally, than he had planned.
Good thing his room had a shower and a bed because he was ready to sleep the night away and half a day away. Another good thing was he had notified his mother ahead of time and she trusted himself and Sec 9 enough these days that he could get away from returning home for a few days if need be.
She really liked those souvenirs from Atlanta.
"Had fun?"
He let out a massive groan internally, he knew that tone. That tone and inflection. Hiromi was pissed and she had her buttons pressed. Figures he just had the luck of having hit the last one of the day and, more importantly. the most sensitive one.
He could deal with this any other day and time but he didn't think he could now. Still mom didn't raise no quitter, no matter how few their odds were before, and his two Senseis certainly didn't train one either.
"The run was Nova." He kept his tone light, playful, hopefully dismissive.
"That so?" Her dry tone put the melted Middle East to shame and made it clear he had failed to draw her into their usual banter to de-stress.
Girl couldn't accept it in her clouded mind. She just had to get angry and need an outlet right now of all times. She couldn't just bully another Corpo Kid or mess with Nox or hell a Tyger Claw wannabe she could find in her agent's directory or on the street.
Hopefully a change of tactics would be better received, more one he rarely used.
"Not now Hiromi." He sighed at her and actually let a bit of pleading enter his tone, "I'm tired as everything in Night City and sore like I just took on Welles and V in a boxing match at the same time."
He threw her a tired smile, and to his very brief relief it seemed it worked and he was off the hook.
Then the storminess came back.
"You didn't seem that tired before you-"
Padre que estás en el cielo, this is why he didn't even try sometimes.
"Hiromi," he snapped at her and she actually flinched back just the slightest bit before standing her ground, "Not now. Not today. You know nothing happened either now or before so level out your thoughts and drop it."
Ah, fuck. Now the corpo training would kick in and the power play would be added to that.
His Senseis' would kick his ass. What would be left of it anyways as he could already feel his own thoughts spiral along with Hiromi's.
"Martinez," she began frostily and his tired mind couldn't even sigh anymore, "Do you think I don't notice-."
Her tone broke off as he slammed one open hand against the wall and near her cheek, making sure to angle his body to the side to let her have a way out even if he brought their faces close together.
He was playing with nuclear fire now. Both with this friendship and with Motoko's and Hiromi's present one. Ghost didn't like anything vaguely related to violence approaching her friend and even if this was because of both their heightened emotions at the wrong time there wasn't a bit of doubt in his mind that Motoko would slit his throat in front of Sec 9.
Heh, guessed that maybe answered his earlier question, then? But well, sometimes the only way forward was through the fire for a chance of survival.
"Motoko's rather pretty," he began ignoring the way part of Hiromi's organic red cheeks became even redder in anger and her mouth opened, "Not just in looks but the way she moves and the sheer confidence she goes around this city."
His hand rose up to her chin and gently cupping it, physically pausing her words and he rushed his forwards as the gesture bought him a few more seconds. Even if he was now in danger of loosing it. "Sasha's beautiful in a bubbly way. Susan, the Mil-Aka girl, is attractive and her uniform's rather flattering. Susanna from Bio-Aka is smart in a non condescending way and damn if that isn't rare. Rebecca shouldn't be as attractive as she is when there's blood flying through the air and it reflects off her smile."
Hiromi was blinking erratically now while she hung limp from what was no doubt confusion against the wall.
Time to finish up his point and then get out. Hopefully he could achieve his rank up before he was murdered.
"You're cute yourself with your mix of corpo and kitsch. Both in looks and personality." He sighed out, tiredly using both his now free hands to rub his face, hoping in some manner to push back strength into his mind, body and soul. Purposefully blocking Hiromi's no doubt furious expression or even the scarier lack of it, if necessary.
"I look. Same as any other, including you. And hey, I think I do it better than lots. You can't exactly tell me, say, your little Tyger Claw contacts are anything but respectful. You know their rep. Hell, you've told me how those threats were directed towards you and Motoko more than once."
Apparently he was wrong before, and wow that just had to become a common thing this night of all nights didn't it, as he let out one final tired sigh.
"My point is Hiromi, just because it happens and I or another glances towards Motoko or whomever or whatever other example you want to use here doesn't necessarily mean anything at the end. I'm kinda flattered, you and the Oni think I have a chance but it doesn't mean I'll ever take it with her or anyone else, even if I or they look and flirt with whomever."
He was rather surprised he could get so far and if he was being honest with himself, which he was obviously doing, he was kinda afraid her eyes would be glowing gold right now if he glanced towards her. Good thing he planned for that just in case and was already finishing loading his script kiddy quick hack from his agent in his jacket pocket.
"So really Hiromi, cool your jets sometimes and think."
He pushed off quickly from the wall, slipping into a connecting door before firing off the quickhack. Making it override itself and shut off its access temporarily.
"What…" He heard a thump and a yell that he couldn't quite make out, but by its tone and their just finished conversation along with her usual moods he could guess pretty easily, "David, stop! Get back here!"
Fat chance of that he snorted.
"You idiot! You can't-"
Both his Senseis rule of always having a bag ready sure was going to be useful now.
He needed someplace to relax until his exam.
Maybe he could hang with Falco? The Nomad seemed pretty Nova. Or maybe just hole up in the Badland's base? That was pretty secure with all the mods Sec 9 did to it.
"Yo, dimples!" A cheerful voice broke through his stormy thoughts, "Wha's up choom? Everything 'preem?"
She paused as she saw his expression even if his smile seemed genuine at first glance there was something off about it.
"What's wrong, choom? You okay David?" Her hand reached towards the back of her jacket, "Need some gonk flatlined? Or a gig done? We can go right now!"
He snorted despite his mood. It was sweet in Becca's own way.
"Nah, Becs. Just," he weakly rolled his hand, "Just been a long day, y'know?"
Her hand paused and her twintails hung off to one side as she tilted her head while she looked at him (did she twitch a bit?). Her gaze was searching his face before she returned it to a more natural position as her hand retracted.
He couldn't really put into words the relief that washed over him when it didn't seem he would have to confront her.
"...Trouble in paradise…?" She remarked lightly, stepping up to him again and for all both of his Sensei's teachings told him to be careful not to let her get too close as a precaution in such an unknown situation he really couldn't muster up any resistance against her.
He snorted instead, continuing towards his room at a casual pace. Either he was dead now or later, not much to do about that with Ghost in the building.
"You could say that." He threw over his shoulder as he passed her, giving her a friendly pat on her shoulder.
She shrugged easily. Hip bumping him in a friendly way in return. She fell into step with him easily, even if he was going the opposite way from where she had been heading.
All he got for his questioning gaze was a wink so he shrugged it off.
"Dem's the way things go sometimes David." She began after a beat of silence, her arms crossed behind her head and letting him incidentally see the bright tattoo all along her neck and collar bone, "Just gotta take care of it a step at a time, ya know?"
"That so?"
She hummed in affirmative before throwing a sideways smile at him, her rather sharp teeth briefly displayed.
"We're Afterlife Mercs now David." She winked at him, throwing another hip bump his way, "We're all looking for our own bit of paradise."
"...True dat' Becca." He sighed, his shoulder rolling with the motion as he closed his eyes and rolled his head the opposite way, "Where do you think yours is?"
"Still looking for it," Her grin grew wider as she gave a devil may care sort of shrug, turning to show it off fully at him, "Or maybe even them?"
Another easy shrug from her, "Who knows? But I admit joining this little group seems to be a step in that direction."
He turned her words over briefly in his tired mind before filing away for later it, not really able to process anything complicated right now. Rebecca had that in spades, contrary to expectations. "Pretty sure they're at section Z right now stomping merrily if you want to look."
She paused for the first time since their walk started, a complicated looking expression taking over her face as she mumbled something unintelligible beneath her breath.
"Guess I kinda asked for this, in a way, didn't I? Not like I could have known…"
Rebecca shot him a smile (?) before he could speak up in confusion, easily picking up the conversation again. "Not what I meant David. But…thanks? In a way?"
It was his turn to tilt his head and she visibly perked up with a giggle as she poked his piercing with a single pale finger.
The silence was nice and most importantly companionable.
"Want some?" She held up her pack of synth gum after taking one for herself, the wrapper half opened as she chewed her own, blinking up at him all the while.
"Sure." He made to grab one but she playfully wiggled it back.
"Becca…?"
"Ah, ah, ah." She sing songed, smile fully blown and charming mischievousness on display, "Do it properly now, Dimples?"
It took him a moment but he snorted in amusement.
It was as he bent down to take a stick of her gum that he realized he felt substantially lighter.
"There we go." She winked at him, falling into step with him once again, "That better, yeah?"
"Yeah," he half-sighed out raising his up upwards, towards perhaps some manner of freedom? Hope? Or even paradise like Becca said. "Much."
"Knew it would help."
You're nova like that." He admitted out loud, the words easily flowing out. Still they were almost towards his room and he should at least inform her if anything, didn't seem right to just bounce after their moment together.
"Hey, Rebecca?" She turned towards him again from where she was idly watching the hallways as they walked.
"Yeah David?"
"Gonna head out a bit for a few days. Thought I should let you know." He shrugged, "I'm going to send a message letting Ghost, Hiromi and my mother know when I finish packing up. If you need anything shoot me a text or call and I'll-"
"Where are you heading at this hour, David?" She stopped him with a firm grip on his hand, a surprising amount of strength present in her small fingers and palm as they grasped his, "You sure everything's alright? The Corpo kids you and Hiromi keep talking about messing with you?"
"Everything's fine Becca," he squeezed her hand in reassurance but her expression didn't change. She just continued to stare at him firmly as they stood in the middle of the hallway. The overhead lights making her optics reflect interestingly, "Just need to head out and relax for my exam. Get my head and mind all straight and focused."
It was true too. Now that he had managed to calm down substantially he doubted his more macabre thoughts would happen. He would probably get screamed at and scolded but still have his neck.
"Dat so?"
"Yeah, promise." He squeezed her hand again, emphasizing his point. She finally nodded slowly at him but didn't release her hold on his hand, merely swinging it between them as she resumed walking, this time leading him towards his room.
Should have known she would have figured it out now or even before.
"Where to, choom?"
"Becs…?"
She blew a bubble playfully up at him, "Want some company?"
"I can't ask you-"
"Not asking David," She snorted, finally letting hsi fingers go after one last swing but not before flicking her fingers lightly at his hand. "I'm offering."
"I was thinking of hanging with Falco and maybe even the Nomads if he's with them or going to head there. Or even just heading out towards the Badland's base." He clarified for her sake, giving her an idea and an out on the trip he was going to take.
She thought it over a few moments, her head swinging side to side, before shrugging and shooting him a smile. "Let me pack up, a'ight? Oh! And add me to that message, yeah?"
"No pressure, Rebecca."
She swung her arm over his lower back with a smile in answer. "You're sweet David. Don't worry I'll help you train until you're a Big Bad Cyber Ninja, massacring people like Motoko."
"...I actually do stealth though." He joked back after a moment of collecting his warm feelings into order. She chortled in response and his tired mind let the added warmth flow pleasantly through him.
"Hey Rebecca?" He wasn't sure if it was something in his tone or what but when she turned towards him again she made sure to snake a hand underneath his combat jacket to give him a reassuring squeeze.
"Yeah, David?"
"Thanks." He returned her hug, draping his arm over shoulders."For real."
"Anytime." She looped her fingers through one of his belt loops before bumping her head gently against his side.
"Right back at you, Becca."
Edit: Some notes I forgot
The piercing is a Mythology Gag because in the English Dub David and Tanjiro share a VA.
At least I gave someone who enjoyed Motoko's combat leotards even if in Omake form. And they still put on pants but hey, could even see it as a different form of cosplay.
I never said I would limit myself to one type of shiptease. Rather proud that I could do three kinds of shiptease.
Cyber Ninja omake David will absolutely massacre anyone that tries to harm Hiromi and Rebecca. Lucy too when she shows up and a friendship starts (I'm more fond of friends to lovers and gradual interest than love at first sight).
If you think about it Jun never gets to protect his little sister's honor or it's been a really long time. Motoko always murder blocks him. Poor Jun, he just was to throttle some idiots in a justifiable manner and show off to his imouto but Seras won't let him.
The Tachikoma did the crab knife thing.
Should have known I couldn't resist myself but that last one was a surprise. I admit I'm biased for Lucy and Rebecca. Really happy at how that last scene turned out and not just because of said bias. Just seemed to flow nicely.
Might do some edits later and again hope you enjoyed even one of the scenes.
I'll try to control myself when Lucy shows up but uh, no promises.