Emily slept through the night, and part of the day, before eventually stirring from the bed and feeling…not terrible, actually. She had expected to feel as if she was entirely drained, but while she was feeling tired and pretty groggy, it wasn’t the lead arms feeling she was expecting.

“Sleep well?” Cancer asked. Emily looked at her and nodded, and then her brain actually kicked into gear and she let out a shriek.

“Wh..why are you here? And naked to boot!” she exclaimed, scrabbling backwards and nearly falling off the edge of the bed in her haste to escape.

“Well, this is my bed. You invaded last night, not that I minded at all, it was nice to have someone to snuggle up to” she told Emily, in that sultry tone that never failed to make Emily blush.

“O…oh. Sorry. I didn’t really notice who’s bed this was, just…tired last night” she muttered, awkwardly stroking a finger through her hair and trying to brush this whole situation off. Not that it was going so well. Cancer had a beautiful figure. One that was so hard to not look. Cancer let Emily stare for a good while before sliding off the bed and walking around to Emily’s side, somehow getting dressed into a white shirt and black skirt in the second Emily lost sight of her.

“Well, then I guess it is time for breakfast, no? I could cook, or we could go to this lovely place that actually cooks better than I do, if I am honest” she admitted, smiling softly at Emily. An astute person would be able to notice the smile had something more than just friendship, but right now Emily was as astute as a rock, half buried in a swamp.

“If you think they can cook better than you, then let’s go there” Emily replied, getting off the bed herself and stretching, before looking around for clothes. This was Cancer’s room, but there had to be something to wear.

“I picked out this lovely dress for you. Same style as your other one, but with a purple colouring to it. Vibrant, and outstanding, so you can make a good impression” Cancer told Emily, gesturing to a stand which had the dress on it. Emily couldn’t deny it was an incredibly beautiful dress, but there was something in the back of her mind, that needed out.

“Did you get a dress for mum as well?” Emily asked, and from Cancer’s reaction, the question was a negative one.

“I don’t have her size, so I can’t really get her anything yet” Cancer muttered, knowing where this was going. Emily had a lot of repressed love for her mother, and now that Anne was able to actually think for a second, it was all coming to the front again.

“Well, then I don’t want to upstage her by wearing such finery and having her without anything proper” Emily took her eyes off the dress and laid them on Cancer, who nodded, resigned to the fate of not getting Emily in a dress today.

“Fine. Go do your hygiene, I shall find something lesser for you to wear” Cancer seemed dejected, so Emily planted a kiss on her cheek before heading to the bathroom.

“Thanks Cancer” She said, before heading off.

Watching her go, Cancer sighed internally, the feeling of trepidation in her stomach again. Yesura’s death was crippling last time, and she wasn’t confident that she could do it again. Whatever was planned by the Jane from the future, she really hoped it was something that was going to really work. But that was worry for later, for now Cancer set about getting Emily something that would make her look stunning, and yet not look terrible, something that her mother could wear as well. Cancer settled on a knee-length skirt, and a nice blouse to go with it. Nothing crazy, but also not something that made her look like some trashy teen. Now Cancer was around, Emily would develop a sense of fashion, wither she wanted to or not. The shrieking that was her singing came from the bathroom, and Cancer just smiled to herself, replicating Emily’s outfit, changing a bit of the pattern and the colour so it wasn’t identical, and then went to go wake up Anne. Who, as it turned out, was still crashed on the couch in her Vestimenta.

“Rise” Cancer commanded, and Anne’s eyes snapped open, although they were still pretty dull with fatigue.

“Uhh, gods. Where am I?” Anne groaned, rubbing her eyes and sitting up properly.

“On the couch. You fell asleep very quickly last night. You should get clean” Cancer suggested, Anne nodded and slowly rose from the couch, receiving directions from Cancer about where to go for a shower, and leaving the woman alone on the ground floor. However, a sharp pain in the back of her head alerted her to a sudden and immediate need for her presence, so she quickly sent a message to Rebecca to find someone to help the two to the restaurant, and then vanished. When Emily came down a minute later, there was no sign of her, which was a little worrying.

“Cancer?” She asked, stroking down the skirt a little as she walked. It was not something she wore often, outside of school. There was no answer, but a knock at the door a few seconds later did alert Emily, so she went to go answer it, and saw a very large man.

“Morning. I’m Malik. Lady Cancer has had something urgent come up, and so had to go. I’m your guide for today” His voice was smooth, and friendly, not something she would expect from a guy that looked closer to seven foot than six, and was rippled with muscles the size of melons.

“Wow” Emily replied, staring at the guy’s chest. How he managed to find clothes that fit him was a miracle. Maybe he got it made custom. “So, do you like, spend twenty-six hours a day in the gym, or something?” She asked, her mouth working before her brain. It didn’t offend him, instead made him laugh, a deep and powerful sound of mirth.

“No, no. I am one of the Old Guard. It is an inherent thing we were born with, much to our mother’s dismay. My mother loves telling me how difficult I was to ‘squeeze out’ as she puts it” He explained. Emily prodded his chest, and it was solid, like a stone wall. Emily suddenly felt very small, and meekly nodded.

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“Mum’s in the shower. She’ll be down eventually. Do you want to come in?” She asked, out of politeness.

“Cancer would not appreciate deforming the doorframe to fit in, so no. I shall stay outside” He replied. Emily noticed that he was wider, and taller than the doorframe, and was actually crouched a little so Emily could see his face. Stood straight he would clear seven foot. Emily just stared at the colossus that was Malik until she heard footsteps on the stairs, and looked behind her. Anne had found the clothes, and done her hair, and for the first time in years, she looked beautiful.

“Ahh, you must be Anne. Cancer had some business to take care of suddenly, so I am here to help you. My name is Malik” He introduced himself again. And smiled at the gawking. Anne’s reaction was different to Emily’s however, as she nudged her daughter softly and nodded to Malik.

“That’s why you should eat your greens” she teased, giggling softly. Malik grinned a bit himself, but shook his head.

“I have a surprisingly bad diet. Mirja hates it, says I should eat properly, but I’m retired. I’ll eat what I want” He put in, before stepping back from the doorway to allow the two to exit. Which they did, if only to admire his full form, unobstructed by the doorframe. He was truly magnificent.

“Well, we shall we off. Lovely little place, and friendly for my size as well. Actually has doors I can fit through” Malik laughed, heading off down the road with a surprisingly soft step for someone that size. Emily and Anne followed him, enthralled by the idea that someone could be this size. Malik took measured steps so that the two didn’t have to run to keep up, and it was nice. Usually a five-minute stroll could sit him on the edge of the city, so having someone with him to temper his steps made the walk more enjoyable.

Their walk landed them in front of a large restaurant eventually, and Malik opened the large doors for Emily and Anne to enter, before walking in himself, and sitting down to order. He picked a special table that had a chair as if it was designed for him, or someone of his immensity. And it seemed he was well known, as a waitress came over and gave him a rather large smile.

“Hello Colonel. What can I get for you today?” She asked. Emily and Anne both looked to him as his title was revealed, but he did not seem to enjoy it very much. His visage turned grumpy, which was not something that looked possible, what with that smile all but chiselled into his face.

“I keep telling you to not use that. Tsk, he gave it me just to annoy me, I swear…” Malik groaned, before opening a menu and burying his face in it.

“So, I think you are the first person I have ever seen that is actually against showing off their rather considerable rank. Story behind that?” Emily asked, ordering a plate that promised a plethora of meat, and then turning her eyes back to Malik.

“Yes, a very long story” He replied, trying to put her off.

“I’m not going anywhere” Emily did not seem to be dissuaded from the idea at all, so while the waitress took Anne’s order, and then was waved off with a ‘whatever’ from Malik, the very big man sighed and put the menu down.

“The long and short of it is, that I was promoted very highly after the unit I was in did some stuff. And then I retired” he tried, but that didn’t seem to satisfy Emily.

“And you got really famous of it from your dashing exploits so that everyone knows you?” Emily asked, her eyes glittering with a subtle joy that Malik couldn’t resist. He laughed softly, and shrugged.

“It was a very well-covered event, and so yes. Everyone who participated in it got a place in the history books. And while the exploits were indeed dashing, the reason why those exploits had to be undertaken in the first place is for a very negative reason. Which is why I don’t like talking about it, and equally don’t like people bringing it up with my rank” He sat back on the chair, and eyed Emily with something that could be considered, suspicion. Or at least interest. Emily found herself squirming under the gaze, and when the food came, she was glad for a distraction. And also glad that it made good on its promise, and had a lot of meat packed onto a large plate. So she tucked in, letting out mewls of delight at the new flavours, until something occurred to her, with a mouthful.

It was awkward, her sudden exclamation, and then the hasty chewing and swallowing when eyes turned to her expectantly. But she managed to get through it without combusting or collapsing in on herself, and so looked to Mailk.

“We don’t have any money on us” She told him, which only elected a deep laugh from the giant man.

“I know. You are new here, I didn’t expect you to have any currency worth a dam. Don’t worry, it’s on me. I have a very tidy nest egg after my retirement. A meal for three would not make a dent if it was held in the Palace itself. Worry not about that, and simply carry on with your deep enjoyment of the meal. It is amusing to watch” Malik exclaimed. Emily’s cheeks burst into a deep red blush as her noises were brought up, and she obeyed, trying to keep the noises to a minimum until the meal was finished. Still incredibly embarrassed, she did not say anything while Malik paid for the meal and then escorted them back home. On the way home, there seemed to be a group of men blocking access to a street, and they were comparable to Malik in size. Although that was probably because of the white armour they were wearing, more than any bodily bulk. One of them looked in their direction and then raised a massive arm and waved.

“Malik!” The man shouted, causing Malik to look over and – seeing some sort of marking or identification that Emily missed on what looked to be identical suits of armour – waved back.

“Nahal! What’s going on here?” he asked, equally loud as he moved in for a manly hug. Only Malik could hug a man currently wearing that kind of armour.

“If I am honest, I’ve no idea. Got called in for support, but have yet to be filled in on why. That’s being new for you, I guess” Nahal’s large shoulder pads shifted as if his armour was shrugging for him, and then a much smaller woman arrived, a few inches taller than Emily, but seemingly comfortable around these giants.

“Hey Malik. You just passing through, or did you come down to help out?” She asked, giving Emily and Anne a once over.

“Just passing through, Hagine. Cancer asked me to take these two out for breakfast while she went to deal with something. Probably related to the Boss. He’s the only one that can make her move like that” He told Hagine, glancing over the three other men that were present.

“Well, this is a pretty simple situation. Some guys thought to try sneak in some heavy ordinance, and got collared by our security. Tried to tell us they are licensed Bounty Hunters, but they apparently didn’t read the rules. So now we got a group of guys who are going to lose quite the pretty penny before getting the boot” She explained. “No surprise that Lady Cancer is around, and then we get these vultures. Sometimes keeping this place safe is a nightmare” She muttered, flashing Malik a broad smile before turning back to the scene. “Well, I won’t keep you. And if you ever tire of retirement, you know where to find me” She said, giving him a wave and then returning behind the large armoured men.

“Popular one, aren’t you?” Emily asked, after they started walking again.

“As I said. I am pretty dam famous. So yes, a lot of people know me” he replied, and Emily heard in that tone that he was still not going to give her any story about why, so she just let him lead her back home.

“Well, thanks for the breakfast, it was nice” Emily told him, before blushing softly at the evil smirk that crept onto Malik’s face.

“You are welcome. Any time, you want to go out, I’ll be happy to escort you” He said, before turning and leaving Anne and Emily in the doorwell. They were not alone long, however.

“So, enjoy your trip out?” Cancer asked, making both Emily and Anne jump at the same time, and electing a giggle from Cancer.

“Bloody cat ninja. Should get you a bell” Emily muttered. Cancer’s eyes flashed softly, and she gave a sultry grin.

“Sounds like fun. But you’ve got lessons in an hour. So best go get changed”