"Nanoha-chan, I would like to begin perspiring before it's time for our appointment." Melodic voice equal parts amused and exasperated, Fate called out to her friend who was moving from station to station, inspecting each as if the blonde's life depended on each individual machine be working in absolutely perfect order.
They had arrived at the gym around half-past nine in the morning, ensuring they would have a good two hours to exercise before meeting their friends for lunch. That is, before Fate realised just how meticulous the executive would be about her safety. Hand on hip, she bit back a laugh when a staff member approached Nanoha to ask if they could assist her. The flat stare the poor staff got in return sent them scurrying away and the blonde wondered how Nanoha just got cuter and cuter with each passing second she spent in the woman's presence.
Finally satisfied that everything was in proper working order, the executive accompanied Fate to the side to begin their warm ups. Fate's focus was tested as the leanly fit goddess did her stretches, and by the sound of someone's toe meeting a loose weight, the blonde was not the only one distracted at the sight of Nanoha stretching her various muscle groups. For a moment, the blonde had an insane urge to bounce her lucky penny off of the executive's tight glutes. Surely the rebound would take an eye out. 'I'm losing my mind,' she giggled to herself.
Nanoha found herself having to glare daggers at a few of the other patrons scattered about the gym, deciding they were enjoying the sight of the gorgeous blonde a bit too much. She caught one of the muscle heads staring at Fate's buns and catching her flinty glare made him fumble the weight he had been using. It was gratifying to see him hopping around holding his injured foot in his hands. Hmph, served that pervert right. The fact that Nanoha herself was catching surreptitious glimpses was something that the executive chose to ignore; she was merely ensuring Fate's form was correct.
Reminded by Fate to go easy on her shoulder, they stuck to the ski machines and assault bikes, working up a sweat as their heart rates began to climb. Leading Fate through some beginner level strength training, Nanoha helped the blonde with her posture and stance, demonstrating the different squats for her. Fate was no stranger to the gym, but this was a level deeper than she had been allowed to go back home. She'd been banned from weights and told Nanoha as much.
Jaw tight, the executive growled about how form over function was pointless, and that Fate wasn't a show horse meant to be paraded around for aesthetics or as breeding stock. Glad that her friend was in agreement, she was more than happy to pick up the basics from the executive, who seemed very familiar with the various exercises needed to help build Fate's strength up. Little wonder, considering how Nanoha looked more than ready to be a fitness model if she so chose.
Spotting Fate, the auburn haired woman hovered her hands by the blonde's waist, voice encouraging as the woman performed her reps. Fate could feel the warmth of her friend closely watching her, hands brushing her waist each time she pushed upwards, and it was an exercise in self-control not to be distracted by the tingles sending gooseflesh up her torso.
Giving her upper body a break in deference to her pulled muscle, Nanoha worked on lunges and leg presses while Fate took a moment to get them some water.
"Don't recall seeing you around here. First time?" Having picked up their drinks from the staff serving at the counter, Fate turned around to find her way blocked by two of the so-called muscle heads that Nanoha had pointed out to her. The ones who built themselves up to the point where they had balloons pasted onto their bodies.
"I'm here with my friend. Excuse me," She failed to get past them as they presented two walls of meat that wouldn't budge, grins unpleasant. Until a perspiration-coated leg cut lowly between them, foot planting firmly on the floor. The blonde caught a glimpse of Nanoha's stormy expression when the executive inserted herself between the two oversized lunkheads and with an interesting twist of her body, caused the men to spring apart violently. Eyeing the two men who had to flail their arms to maintain their top-heavy balance, Nanoha closed a firm hand around Fate's wrist and led her away in a chilly silence, the blonde all too happy to follow after her friend.
"What was that?" The blond asked, bemused and delighted that Nanoha had come to get her.
"Physics and centrifugal forces, also a little taiji," muttered the auburn haired woman, giving the men they left behind another death glare. "Next time we will get drinks together," the executive grumped, "Feito-chan is too beautiful."
"You think I'm beautiful?" Caught, Nanoha's mouth opened and closed, before Fate placed a delicate finger under her chin, helping her close her mouth. Leaning close, she whispered, "I'm glad. Because I think Nanoha-chan is gorgeous." Sauntering back to the weights section, the blonde put a little more sway to her hips as she tipped her drink to her lips, and over her shoulder, called out to the stupefied executive, "Spot me again?"
Nanoha gulped, eyes riveted to the blonde's sway, 'I am so dead… Wait, she thinks I'm gorgeous?'
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The women's shower area was a lot more crowded than they had anticipated, and Fate found herself having to text Alph about their delay. Nanoha, too, dropped Erio an apologetic note about being late.
Fate had a sneaking suspicion the ladies changing area was so packed simply because Nanoha was wandering around in her underwear, drying her hair at one of the hair-drying stations. Maybe it was a Japanese thing, Fate mused, recalling that hot springs and public showers were a common thing in that country.
Seeing that she was one of the executive's many admirers, the blonde couldn't find it in herself to be annoyed at the other women. Nanoha was outrageously oblivious, much to Fate's chagrin, though she supposed the world would end if the goddess ever discovered the power she could truly wield with just one look.
"Let me," Fate murmured, taking the hair-dryer from the Japanese woman. The blonde was already dressed in a loose red tee, messily tucked into her cropped jeans, her sneakers having been traded in for black flat sandals. Her damp hair had been pulled back into a low ponytail and as her long digits buried themselves into Nanoha's hair, she concluded that she would much rather be playing with Nanoha's thick hair than her own, anyway. The faint purr the executive emitted when she did so almost had her dropping the dryer.
Nanoha's internal debates had her wandering around the women's locker room in a distracted haze. Their admission to one another about… liking the other. How should she interpret that? Was it 'I like you as a friend?', which was true. Or was it, 'I like you that way?'. She knew which way she liked the blonde, and it was beginning to become impossible to ignore how her body reacted to every little thing Fate did. 'Don't try to lie to yourself, you were feeling it from day one.' Her sarcastic inner voice gave her no wriggle room.
She wondered, would it have been that easy to let Ginga go, if she hadn't already fallen for the blonde? The small, sputtering flame she had harboured resentfully for the lavender-haired woman, starved of fuel from over a decade of neglect, stood no chance in the consuming fire that burned in her soul for Fate.
Fate's soft voice nudged her pleasantly out of her musings, and she readily handed the blow dryer off to the blonde. 'Haahh…' Horrified at the immediate, instinctual reaction to the feel of long fingers combing through her hair, she did her best to bite back any sounds. Gods, she hoped the blonde heard nothing.
"How is your shoulder feeling?" Fate asked, deciding that she was doing a terrific job at not leering at the body in the mirror.
Unused to such regard for her well-being, it took Nanoha a moment to understand what the blonde was asking. Blinking, Nanoha nodded and flexed experimentally to check on her body's response, testing the blonde to her utter limits. "Mmm, a little stiff, but nothing a plaster can't… help…?" The executive had caught Fate's eyes in the mirror, and to her wonder, the blonde's eyes were quite clearly dilated. And the questions she had been pondering upon were answered. Turning slowly within the circle of the blonde's arms, she retrieved the drying implement from her friend, "Thank you, Feito-chan." 'For your answer.' Smiling a secret smile, she leaned up and kissed Fate on the cheek, leaving to get dressed.
Fate stood frozen, fingers touching her cheek where the Japanese woman had kissed her. What was she being thanked for? She had done nothing.
"Lucky b…"
"Guess she's taken."
"I wanna be in that sandwich."
Flushing at the mutters she could overhear, Fate hurriedly grabbed her gym tote and left to wait outside of the showers.
A few minutes later, Nanoha emerged to rejoin her friend, and the sight of her had Fate's bell-like laughter pealing through the air. Nanoha had on a white fitted tee with a large Grouchy Smurf design printed on it. Beneath the scowling cartoon character were the words, 'Does this shirt make me look grouchy?' Her belted low-slung jeans tucked into Timberland boots rounded out her outfit. With her hair pulled through a white baseball cap to make a ponytail, Fate thought the executive looked more like a fresh college grad than the top executive of TSAB.
"I like your baby butch look," Fate teased, tugging at the cap's lip.
Giving the blonde a small shrug, Nanoha adjusted the sling of her gym bag to rest more comfortably across her shoulders, "I figured it would help make your friend feel more comfortable." Melting at the woman's sweetness, Fate claimed the executive's hand and tugged her to where the golf-cart was parked.
"I've known Alph since I was a kid. If she cannot get along with you, that is her problem, not ours." Fate stated firmly. This earned her a lopsided smile and Nanoha shifted the cart into gear, "Ah, Testarossa's science whiz. She's put out some interesting papers."
"Her papers bore me to tears, Nanoha-chan, how do you get through them?"
"Lots of coffee."
More laughter as they wound their way down the small roads to their destination.
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The pair found Alph seated inside of Khalifa, a restaurant serving Chinese fusion cuisine. The woman was chatting cheerfully with a pink-haired girl, though their conversation broke off when Alph caught sight of Fate.
Nanoha was trailing behind Fate, and recognised the scientist and Caro, Erio's fiancée. Recalling Erio's effusive greeting, the executive was not at all surprised when Caro squealed and made a bee-line towards Fate, glomping the far taller blonde with absolute delight.
'Down, girl,' Nanoha sternly told the green-eyed monster rearing its head at the sight of someone hugging the blonde. She was frankly getting annoyed with herself, her earlier reaction to the men who had approached Fate had been even worse, and she wondered where her usual aplomb had disappeared off to.
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Fate smiled and patted the girl on her head in a distinctly maternal sort of way. "Hi Alph. Caro! You've been taking growing lessons from Erio, I see. When did you get so tall?"
Realising the executive had been hanging back quietly to allow Fate her reunion, the blonde reached back to find Nanoha's hand, drawing her forward to join the gathering. "Alph," she threw the executive a soft smile, "I want you to meet Nanoha-chan. She's read your papers. Nanoha-chan, this is Alph, I grew up with her."
"Miss Fate, I didn't know you knew Miss Takamachi! Erio said so, but wow, what a coincidence!" Bouncing forward, the girl dropped Nanoha a Japanese bow, cheeks reddened and a very clear sparkle of hero-worship in the girl's eyes.
Nanoha smiled easily at Alph and Caro, glad to see Fate had people who cared for her here, "It's good to see you, Caro." She returned the young girl's bow, "The bao you made the other day was really good. Miss Alph, pleased to make your acquaintance…"
Pouncing on Nanoha, the scientist pulled her out of Fate's grasp and sat her at the table, "Then you know about the roadblock I hit because of IBM playing hard to get! Would TSAB like to one-up IBM? Think about the prestige if I can publish a follow-up…"
Throwing Fate an alarmed look, Nanoha stumbled into the seat the surprisingly strong Alph had dragged her into, "Ah, hah hah, is that so?" the Japanese woman sweatdropped and scratched a finger at her cheek.
Not at all happy to have her Nanoha being monopolised even by her oldest friend, Fate grabbed Alph by the ear, "Alllph... We are here to get to know one another, not for you to schmooze my boss…"
"Ack! Ow ow ow! Fate have mercy!" Who knew axe-throwing would engender such a strong grip?!
Caro giggled and saying she would be back soon with Erio, departed to get everyone's lunch prepared.
Fate's punishing hand let go once Nanoha patted it, "It's all right, Feito-chan. Alph-san was only trying to break the ice," causing Fate to blink and glance over to the faintly red-cheeked scientist.
Caught, the ginger-haired woman scratched the back of her head, "Ahaha! Your tee helped!"
Nanoha slipped Fate an almost wink and the blonde let out a breath she hadn't even realised she had been holding. Sliding into the booth seat next to Nanoha, the blonde gave Alph a stern look. "We aren't thirteen anymore, Alph."
'Hmm, two vs one, aye?' The scientist gave Nanoha a toothy grin, "You should've seen the acne she had…" She began with an evil gleam in her eye.
Panicking, Fate slapped a hand over Alph's mouth, "It was just for one summer! Augh! Okay, I'm sorry I pulled your ear!"
"Nyahaha, so Feito-chan wasn't always perfect?" Nanoha flicked a warm glance over to the blonde who didn't notice, but Alph did. Knowing she had an avid audience, the scientist began regaling the rapt executive with tales of her and Fate's misadventures, much to Fate's complete and utter dismay.
"So she 'accidentally' printed ten thousand copies of the school magazine with pictures of the principal picking her teeth with her shark tooth necklace! All the donors paid top dollar for extra copies!"
Fate had her face buried in her hands. After the second story she could no longer look Nanoha in the eye. "Of course the principal called up our Head Prefect to investigate, but since Fate couldn't find the culprit, she gave herself detention. Oh was her mother MAD."
"She had no right to get involved," Fate hmphed, finding it easier to focus on her annoyance with her meddling parent than the abject embarrassment of her boss hearing all the sordid details of her school life. Yet, she couldn't complain over how she loved hearing Nanoha laughing at yet another story about her youthful struggles against the roles she had to live.
The executive had been absorbing every word Alph was saying, Fate crankily noted, and the scientist was beautiful, smart, and had an amazing body…
Alph was an equal opportunity sort, and anything that struck her fancy was good enough for her. And she wasn't Nanoha's direct report, so there wouldn't be any issues about fraternising or chain of command impropriety. Was she overthinking things?
Caro had returned with Erio and Fate dug up a weak smile for the two youths. It had been years since she had seen them but it was difficult to dredge up more than the most perfunctory socialisation skills while her mind was preoccupied with Nanoha and Alph.
The other two adults noticed but made no mention as the meal progressed. Alph, because she had a niggling suspicion she knew what was up. Nanoha, because she had learned just that morning that this impossibly beautiful blonde had her own demons to exorcise and to rush anything would do neither them nor their budding friendship any good. The leopard was nothing if not patient.
"How is school going?" Nanoha asked the two teens, who blushed and held hands.
"W-We went to the Registry of Marriages last week, actually…" Erio admitted shyly.
All three adults gaped at the teens.
Caro noticed their looks, "We're of age, and our parents agreed. School is looking for couple housing for us, it's w-why we're increasing our hours at Khalifa. If I'm good enough, the head chef says he'll promote me to sous chef on a part-time basis, it's why I've been practising so much…"
Fate laid a warm hand over the couple's clasped ones, "I know you did not make the decision lightly, and I have always known you two were perfect for each other." The smile she gave them was filled with genuine gladness and her eyes were bright, "I'm very, very happy for you both. If you think it won't affect your grades, I believe in you. But you must let me know if you need help."
The redheaded youth exchanged glances with Caro, and both glowed with happiness that another of their important persons had given her blessing.
Nanoha watched the heartwarming scene play out, eyes softened at the angelic vision of Fate, the woman resembling a heavenly being coming down to bless the youths' union. Alph studied the executive in turn, liking what she was seeing, however, she still had her reservations. Someone wouldn't get that high in TSAB without being good at acting or manipulation, was her thought.
She caught the executive using her phone for a long moment, probably answering work texts. What could a person consumed by their career offer her friend?
Caro's special menu included Dim Sum starters, and after, mains of fresh steamed cod, delicately seasoned in a Midchildan style, crisp roasted pork knuckle accompanied by a mildly spicy dip, and a broccoli and scallop stir-fry. Erio expertly served portions to everyone at the table as was the Chinese custom when it came to multi-course meals.
"This Har Gao is amazing, Caro. You've really outdone yourself." Nanoha complimented, enjoying how the shrimp in the filling was crisp and fresh, a wonderful 'surf & turf' accompaniment to the minced pork.
Beaming, Caro squirmed in her seat, "The skin is the hardest to get right; thin enough to see through, strong enough to hold it together."
Something about what Caro said startled the executive, whose eyes glanced awkwardly over to the blonde seated beside her. But the moment passed too quickly for Alph to truly get a bead on what that was about. Fate was oblivious, since she was struggling getting her chopsticks around the slippery snack.
"This is why your mother never insisted you show up whenever officials from China visited," Alph drawled, earning herself a dry look from Fate.
"That was the plan. They looked at me as if I was something laid out in one of these baskets," she gestured at the bamboo baskets the Dim Sum had arrived in.
Erio and Caro exchanged looks, and appeared to be familiar with what Fate was talking about. Making a show of being good hosts, Erio poured a round of fragrant Oolong tea for the table while Caro helped clear away the appetisers and bring out the main courses. It was their way of trying to protect Fate from any questions Miss Takamachi might ask. Why was Fate willing to bring it up in front of the executive in the first place?
The auburn-haired woman didn't appear at all curious, however. Instead, she had plucked up the little bundle from the basket, the last one remaining, and placed it right dab into Fate's Chinese-style soup spoon. "Take it before it gets cold," Nanoha murmured to the blonde, who merely cast a grateful look to the executive, cheeks slightly pink. It was an act of such familiarity that Alph, Erio and Caro were left to wonder exactly what sort of relationship the two women shared.
The rest of the meal progressed without incident, with everyone sticking to lightly impersonal topics. Soon, it was time for the mid-afternoon prep. The couple apologised and bid the adults farewell before heading off to the kitchens.
"When it comes to black teas, I think I prefer Oolong to Darjeeling," Nanoha quipped, casually sipping her tea and casting a mildly teasing look at Fate. Sedately sipping at her own beverage and refusing to meet Nanoha's eyes, Fate murmured, "I find coconut lassi far more refreshing than either, truth be told…'' Finally glancing over to meet sparkling pools of azure blue with her own warmly twinkling crimson gaze.
"Ooookay, I think I'm gonna head off. Fate, can I get a lift?"
"Oh, um, sure." She exchanged glances with the executive, again a move not missed by Alph. At the Japanese woman's nod, she smiled, "My car is parked at Nanoha's, we can leave from there."
Rising to leave, the sound of someone racing over stopped them. Erio, red-faced and panting, skidded to a halt by their table, "M-Miss Takamachi!"
Pressing one calloused finger to her lips in the universal sign for silence, the executive winked at the youth and slung her gym bag onto her shoulder to make a quick exit. Neither Fate nor Alph had a clue about what was going on, and bid Erio a confused goodbye while he bowed deeply at the waist to Nanoha's departing back.
"What was that about?" Alph asked Nanoha while she settled Fate and Alph into the golf-cart.
"Saa~" Nanoha said, refusing to elaborate. Pointedly waiting for her passengers to buckle up, the executive drove the cart back to her apartment.
"Nice digs," Alph commented, eyeing the sprawling condominium.
"It's the company's," Nanoha revealed drolly, "I just sleep here sometimes." Seeing Fate to her side of the car, she leaned close to ask out of Alph's hearing, "Do you think she still thinks I'll sprout devil horns at any moment?"
The executive's closeness made it difficult to breathe, and Fate swallowed, "She could, but I'll ignore her."
Smiling, Nanoha nodded and stepped back, closing the door after Fate seated herself into her driver's seat.
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"What?" Fate impatiently asked her companion.
They had been driving in silence for the past ten minutes with nothing but the sound of the ocean waves as company. It was a pleasant afternoon and Fate had cracked open the windows of her Honda. Winding through the small roads, she settled back once they reached the highway taking them back to the main island. Alph lived a mere ten minutes from her own rental, so it wasn't a rare thing for Fate to give the scientist a lift. That woman was hopeless at driving.
Alph had spent the entire time just eyeing Fate, until the blonde couldn't take it any longer.
"You tell me, princess."
Huffing, Fate's hands tightened on her steering wheel, "I have no idea what you mean."
"Uh huh, you were attached at the hip to Nanoha-chan all through lunch. She was practically feeding you with that Dim Sum. I think I have an idea."
Flushing, Fate huffed even more, "We're friends, it's n-nothing…" Deflating, she muttered, "A-Anyway, she was hanging on to every word you said." Why did it sound wrong to hear Alph call her 'Nanoha-chan'?
"...About you, you ninny." Alph would have flicked Fate on the forehead had the blonde not been driving.
On one hand, Alph couldn't believe the literal and figurative princess of their school had such low self-esteem, but then she remembered the family Fate had grown up in, and was amazed the woman appeared mostly well-adjusted.
"Anyway, she seemed nice." Alph began, then slyly added, "A bit cold."
"Cold?" The blonde's lilting voice rose in outrage as she took the bait, "What do you mean cold? It's clear Erio likes her, and Caro worships her. She's the mystery person who has been helping them with their finances. He told me the last time I saw him. She's just not… not around other people…" Alph's slowly growing grin gave Fate pause and her words trailed off. With a sinking realisation that she may have said too much, her mouth snapped closed and she made a show of focusing on driving.
"W-We just get along," Fate finished weakly.
"Hun, I've seen you get along with less people than I have fingers. On one hand."
"She's… She's just different."
"Is she?" Alph raised a placating palm, cutting off Fate's angry retort, "I know what you told me, Fate. I even saw some of that today. As your vice head prefect… I just hope you'll be careful."
Exhaling, Fate slowed to a stop at a red light and threw her old friend a softly grateful look, "I hear you, Alph. She's never asked me for anything, outside of work-related things." Yet, the blonde was slowly realising that if she asked, the executive might just deliver to Fate whatever she wanted wrapped up in a big red bow.
Shaking her head, she focused back onto the road, "I don't know, Alph. She's no stranger to others always wanting something from her. Maybe she should be the one being careful of me."
Alph smirked and took a wild guess, "Why? Are you planning to attack her?"
Fate's lips thinned, "N-Not funny, Alph. Someone did and…" The blonde's knuckles turned white as she imagined strangling the woman who had hurt Nanoha. "She deserves so much better." Fate whispered, the muscle in her jaw jumping as she clenched her teeth.
And there they were, back to Fate's dismally low opinion of herself. Arms crossed in thought, Alph remained quiet for the rest of the ride.
"Thanks Fate, was good seeing you and the kids, and Nanoha-chan." She grinned and threw the blonde a quick hug before she could be scolded, "Take care and let's hang out more, I miss seeing my princess every day."
Fate gave an elegant snort, returning the hug, "You'll get sick of me," she said while making no promises.