lightningenforcer

Characters: Fate T. Harlaown & Nanoha Takamachi
Rating: PG-13
Summary: Fate is a once lone knight who has sworn herself to a noble lady named Nanoha. They are smitten at first sight. Three weeks have passed and they have set up the school Nanoha had been wishing for.

Three weeks had gone by. Fate had returned to her adoptive mother the day after to tell her that she had spontaneously offering to dedicate herself to a strange noble woman and her wishes. Although she had been afraid of Lindy's response, she was not surprised when her mother responded with excitement and support. Lindy had teased her--mostly making assumptions about how stunning that noble woman must be and things of that sort--but Fate knew her mother was genuinely happy.

Fate had spent so much time wandering the country, doing nothing more than tuning her fighting skills and performing errands for her mother, and Lindy was happy she had found something to focus on and someone needing her help.

The day after, Fate returned to Nanoha. Acquiring a building to use as a schoolhouse was quick and within two weeks Nanoha had it furnished and ready to accept students. After the first week of tending to students--the group was small, but growing--Fate had grown more comfortable with her decision. She was busy and felt she was accomplishing something important. Occasionally she thought about the first night she had spent talking with Nanoha and the things they talked about; they had not talked much more about romance or attraction or anything.

However, Fate was more-or-less comfortable with that. She was likely thinking she could wait until the 'right' opportunity presented itself. She had no idea what that opportunity would look like or how long it would take to appear, but she felt waiting was the best course of action.

Today, after the students left and dusk fell, Nanoha and Fate were cleaning up the schoolhouse. Sweeping and tutoring were not exactly the typical responsibility of a knight, but she was happy. She tossed out the last of the dust and checked that all the chores were now done. She joined Nanoha and smiled.

"You've been busy these last few weeks, especially this last one. Has it been what you expected, Lady Nanoha?"

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"What did I say about using 'Lady' when we're alone, Fate?" Nanoha leaned on her broomstick and shook her head, but the smile never left her face. She remembered that first night of theirs keenly, and every day after that. It had been a joy, and it was difficult to put it any other way.

"Every day has been a surprise, but I've never been happier." She answered after a slight pause. It was true. Children always had some fancy new way to throw all of her plans into disarray, and it had been an exercise in thinking on her feet. It was exhausting, in a way she could never have imagined, but it was also fun. Especially with Fate by her side.

"I'm so happy for you." Although Nanoha's enjoyment was obvious enough to not need to be asked, Fate still liked to hear the words from the woman's mouth. Few things brought joy to Fate like hearing Nanoha talk about something that she enjoyed; she practically absorbed the good feelings the other woman radiated.

"And I'm glad your dream is turning out so well. The children adore you; this is a perfect fit for you." Even though Fate would occasionally pout at Nanoha when she was too strict with the children, she was being honest. She enjoyed watching Nanoha with the children and thought the woman would be a perfect mother.

"Eheheh, really? They're always running to you, though." Nanoha wanted to raise independent children in a way that she couldn't be as a noble lady, but she was always worried that she went a bit too far. Luckily for her, Fate was nearby to keep things from getting out of hand.

"The way you pamper these kids, it's hard to imagine you as the mighty fighter that you are!" Now, if Fate was left alone with the children, she'd probably spoil them rotten. Nanoha had a feeling that there was a story behind it, but she didn't want to pry right now. If Fate ever wanted to say anything, she would do it on her own time, or at least when they had gotten to know each other better.

"W-Well." Fate smiled. If Nanoha was trying to insinuate that Fate was too much of a doormat, it didn't work as she took the idea that she was nice to the kids and ruining her image as a knight as a compliment. "I don't think that is entirely true. They are always mentioning how amazing Miss Takamachi is. You've left quite an impression on them already."

The kids might go to Fate if they need an easy solution, but they certainly admired Nanoha. Fate could hardly fault them. Nanoha has had a similar impression on them as she had on Fate. "I would have to agree with them."

"That's the same with you, isn't it?" Nanoha pointed out. "They always tell me about how kind you are, and how they look up to you." She certainly wouldn't go so far as to call Fate a doormat, but she would say that Fate had a lot more patience than her for children's shenanigans. Was it a bad thing? It wasn't how Nanoha did things, but she couldn't say with any conviction that it was truly bad.

"The girls especially say they want to grow up to be like you, strong and smart and beautiful. It's almost enough to make me jealous!" Nanoha was joking with that last part of course. She could never be jealous of Fate. No, instead she was quietly thankful that such an incredible person had entered her life and chosen to serve her. It was really more than she deserved.

"N-No, don't tease me like that." She refused to believe any of the children would think any such thing, given they had Nanoha around. Fate felt like she was off to the side and Nanoha in the center of attention, which was entirely appropriate. Fate was here only to help and couldn't imagine she had made that much of an impression on anyone.

"I know for sure I have heard some say the very same thing about you." After a moment, she added: "If I were a student of yours, I would feel the same." Nanoha was brilliant and beautiful, and though she was no night, she was strong. "I'm a bit disappointed I'm not your student, now that I think of it, Miss Takamachi."

That was her best attempt at a joke.

"Is that so?" Nanoha was certainly the centre of attention, it just came with their respective job scopes, but she would definitely never say Fate hadn't made much of an impression. She was someone who had great presence just by being there, practically radiating kindness.

But since Fate said she didn't want to be teased...

"I can be your private tutor then, Fate." She slid up to sit on a table, and crossed one leg over the other slowly. If she had glasses, she would have watched Fate over them, but she didn't, so she made do with just tapping a ruler against her open palm. "I'm not sure what I can teach you, but we can figure something out."

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