Author note:
Posting do soon after the last chapter? Must be a new year's miracle or something. Anyway, Happy new years and wishing everyone the best for this year.
********
The next day came, and after repressing last night's situation, I finally sent my plans to all important parties, i.e my Orga, Biscuit, Naze, David, Richy and Makanai.
We discussed it when midday came, and it was agreed that whether or not the amplifier worked, stealing or capturing enemy suits was a good idea so it was the plan we were going with. We could always just distract them some other way. So basically, we would try to get all our pilots' enemy mechs, have all but two go after the enemy defenses while the two carried the VIP's and a few mobile workers across.
That was 'Operation hop the fence' for you.
I'm pretty sure there was a rule in some Geneva convention-like agreement here that suits weren't allowed in cities, but are you even trying to win a war if you follow the rules? They are more like checklists if anything.
We would begin skirmishes the next day to capture some mechs. So, for the time I had, Naze thought it best to tell me about my possible future investment managers. The man does not have an eye for timing, but I'm free at the moment so I said alright.
Kurota and Elian were the names given.
I'd rather have met them in real life but I don't know when I would even get to that with how much I got going on.
So, I would need to meet them online, beginning with the old hand and to be honest, there wasn't much to say.
The old man was kinda like if Keith Shadis was into stocks.
Well, he seems to be at least competent to be in his position with many more captains coming to him every year so I didn't mind having him start with an experimental amount of money I wouldn't be clutching my heart over. He would be paid using a flat fee and a performance fee, which was apparently fair from Naze's reaction.
The next one however, was indeed a unique one.
" Aw, Naze. You still remember little old me." A fiery red haired scantily clad woman swooned as she completely ignored me, the central focus of the camera.
" Good to see you're still alive and well Elian." Naze replied with a clearly fake smile on.
" How's that lying whore, Amida? I know she shouldn't be that far from you, considering her lack of independence."
" I hear you're still as foul-mouthed as ever, Elien." Amida commented from across the room, scrolling through whatever she was scrolling through, not even batting an eye in our direction.
Elien snorted, before her eyes finally landed on me. " So handsome, who's the pipsqueak in the Daddy's suit."
I was given the rundown on how to approach this lady. Being a Martian street rat, she didn't like flowery words. She despised nice acts and liked genuine people with a bite. Something about reminding her of her background or something. Something I actually admired, considering I understand her being from the same background and all.
So I turned to the Naze with my most crooked smile." Naze, as much as I like a good time, I wasn't looking for a hooker at the moment, though you could have at least brought one of quality if you thought I needed one."
That earned a genuine chuckle from the man, a louder laugh from Amida and a surprised look from the redhead which quickly turned angry.
" Naze, I think you should teach your crotch goblins better manners."
" Naze, is this slum slut even literate? I mean, honestly, I can taste the STDs from here. I must say, you don't have to compensate for your lack of…well everything with the hair or were you trying to distract men from that face even a mother could hate."
When I was met with silence, I wondered if I went to far but relief flooded my veins when the woman began laughing, causing the rest of the room to follow.
" Alright kid. You got a tongue on you for sure. Martian born?"
I nodded and her grin widened. " Only one of us can roast that well."
With that colourful introduction and a little chit chat whereI made sure to play up our shared background, we got to business, and she was a rather cool person. It She gave me better rates than the Shadis wannabe, and while I originally planned to give her half the amount I gave the older man, the fact that Naze could vouch for her and how earnest she seemed when she learned of our shared history to helping filled me with trust.
So I gave her double. It would give me a little heartache if she ran away with the cash, but it wouldn't shatter my heart.
It was late afternoon when that meeting ended, and I had no more duties or meetings so I decided to go on a quick walk around our camp before going to find either Richy or Harley, depending on my mood.
Harley was spending most of her time training or patrolling with the suits. God, did she love suits. Just as much as Andre. I swear, in a different world, they would be a couple with how much time they spent together just training or patrolling.
Then there's Robby. Despite presenting himself as a tought rough and tumble grease monkey you didn't wanna mess with, he could get rather nervous when people relied on his own creations. I've seen him work long hours to ensure his amplifier wasn't gonna be a dud, and it was getting unhealthy.
David said he planned to while we trained together this morning. I could join Richy, who was catching up with his accounting homework, but I didn't want to work or bother him. Lastly, I could hang around some of the guys I knew who liked to play cards during that time of day, but I wasn't feeling like it.
While thinking on this, I circled the base twice, then decided to fetch the cocoa I made. This stuff was rare in this warzone, but Makanai's island home had and as his prized guest, I deserved some, so I made that clear by emptying it all for such occasions.
Picking up my cup, another person I hadn't thought about came to mind. A person I decided to make a cup of my valuable drink for. Despite my selfish side arguing against it, I made the cup and walked out to a specific edge of the base. One that looked out upon Edmonton.
"I heard you were here. "
My target for the day swung her head to look back at me in slight surprise as I approached.
" Oh, it's just you."
Just you? I almost decided not give her the cup because of that alone, but being the kind man I am, I gave it to her anyway. " Don't tell anyone but I may or may not have snatched this from Makanai's island before we left. "
She sent me a smile at that, taking a sip from the cup and sighing in pleasure at the taste. "Don't worry, I won't tell a soul."
I allowed a brief silence to take hold as we enjoyed the drink and the setting sun casting warm glows on the city in the distance. Despite the damnable cold of the Canadian evening rolling in, it was a rather enjoyable calm before the storm.
When my cup was half empty, I finally decided it was time to speak and tell the girl the good news I had for her today.
" You know, when we get Makanai and you in, the old man is supposed to give a speech on the day about why he should be prime minister. I asked if he could give you a bit of time to just say your piece. Apparently, he's confident enough in his victory to hand all his time to you."
The girl turned slightly towards me, an unbelieving look on her face, and seeing that I wasn't yanking her chain, I could see it change into something unreadablefrom the amount of emotions flying across her face.
"I don't know how to thank you," she said quietly, her voice laced with sincerity. "I keep trying to find the right words, but they always feel insufficient."
She looked down at the cocoa, then back out to the city. "You've done more than enough to support this cause. You've supported me. Even when you didn't have to. Even when I doubted myself."
She glanced at me again, eyes appearing glossy for a moment. "Thank you, Darius. Not just for this moment. For everything."
She offered a small, genuine one that would have killed a vampire with how bright and radiant it was. It brought more warmth than the cocoa could only try to do, the sunset casting a beautiful glow on the blonde.
I had to look back at the city, taking a sip of the cocoa to cover up any unwanted emotions beginning to bubble and form a response.
" What did I say? You don't have to thank me. Just achieve what you need to, and when you become one of the big players, don't forget about me." I finally managed to reply, sending her a smile back before it took a teasing turn, " I may not be your crush like Mika, but I think I do deserve some of your attention."
A melodic laugh escaped the noble girl, but the blush I expected never came, nor did the shyness that followed come to. Instead, she held my gaze.
About that…" she turned, not from embarrassment but what looked to be contemplation.
"Mika was…" She paused, her voice dipping into something more reflective. "He was a part of a short chapter that's ended. One I'll never forget, but one I've learned was a bit of a fantasy really, though I shall still hold him as a close friend."
Wait what?
She turned to face me more fully now, the city and its troubles momentarily forgotten.
"I wanted to say this since we got to earth but a lot has happened and I hadn't built up the courage. "
Aw shit, is this really happening?
"And you've already taken up more of my thoughts than I expected."
It is.
She gave a small shrug, the barest hint of shyness brushing her expression. "So…you might not be my crush," she said the word with a faint grin. "But don't be so sure you're far off."
Dafaq?
That felt like blue balls to the heart. Twice in a row. Damn.
It's cool though. Not far off. That was definitely interesting. I guess it was better than nothing. I mean, it's not like I was planning for her to fall in love with me in the first place.
Still..
The blonde even had the nerve to turn away and sip on her cocoa after saying all that. Sighing, I turned to face the city once more.
You know what? Fuck that.
I'm not gonna have another Fumitan here. There's only one way to handle this type of situation that has been tried and true. " To confess to me so boldly. My, my, you have grown a bunch on our trip. Who am I to refuse the overwhelming love from our martian princess?"
"I didn't confess anything," she said, tilting her head, eyes gleaming with amusement. "I was merely making an observation, and I just didn't want to leave without saying something that mattered."
Dang, she really had grown. It only took a few seconds for her to reply and she didn't even blush
"So no, it's not a confession. Not yet. But it's something."
Ha! You've made a big mistake Kudelia Aina Bernstien. You've given me the opportunity to get my revenge with that reply and I shall milk it hard. I had to hold back the devilish smile threatening to appear on my face for a softer smile. If she thinks she can make a fool of me, she is mistaken.
Ultimate blush berserker activated.
I softly bumped into her, my best soft smile on show. " Well, 'yet' tells me you still plan to."
Now, the hair tucking technique.
A hand of mine reached out to tuck a bit of her hair behind her ear before I went in for the kill, kissing her cheek and turning, beginning to walk away. " So I guess I can wait till you do."
Mission accomplished.
Oh, how I wished to see the furious blush I'm sure she's spotting but I gotta continue forward for the cool, mysterious, nonchalant vibe. Plus, I'm half sure she's looking back right now.
Fuck yeah, you're that dude. At least, if I die now, nah, I would still have regrets, but this one won't be there.