Back to the bus

[kaya-waterwave.livejournal.com]

It was an exhausting week.

Between medbay, chasing after a playful Ronnae, dealing with a hormone filled Overlord and still bemoaning the loss of a friend and the gaining of an enemy, Kaya wanted nothing more than to stay in her room and leave everything to its own devices. Of course she knew better: people needed help, with the de-aging and the situation on that planet, and she was already worrying about Billy to death.

One thing she hadn't done though, was visit the people she cared about most,and she wanted to correct that now: she hadn't seen Matt in a week, and Negi, who she cared for like a little brother, even longer. So she made her way to the W.I.T.CH, bus and knocked on the door.

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[lackofdarkwings.livejournal.com]

"Kaya?" Inquired Matt, coming up from behind her. He seemed a little tired and run down, but otherwise all right. He was carrying a box with him that seemed mostly heavy. "Hey. Sorry, I was in GlaDOS till now. Just got out."

[kaya-waterwave.livejournal.com]

Kaya, out of breath, was more than happy to see Matt. She saw he had a box with him, and though a more mindful Kaya would have waited until he put them down, Kaya couldn't wait. She grabbed the box, put it down and pulled him into the tightest hug she could possibly give him.

"Oh Matt," she said into his shirt. "I feel like ts been too long since we've seen each other! Are you ok?"

[lackofdarkwings.livejournal.com]

Matt hugged back, letting her rest against him. "I'm fine," he said. "A little tired and cake deprived but that's about it. How about you? I can't imagine the last few weeks have been easy."

[kaya-waterwave.livejournal.com]

Kaya shook her head, a bitter laugh threatening to surface. "Oh, with Alex being podded, one of the greatest enemies in my world walking the ship, and my friends being sent on missions that tend to warp them pretty bad? No, it hasn't bee great."

And she landed him a long, soft kiss. "But its getting better."

[lackofdarkwings.livejournal.com]

Kissing her back briefly, Matt sighed. "Yeah, I can tell. It's been one thing after another isn't it?"

"Let's get this cake into the ship and we'll have a slice. Okay?"

[kaya-waterwave.livejournal.com]

She laughed a little. "It's life on the ship, but I can tell you about it later. More importantly, how have you been? I hear you and the Overlord have had long conversations about me!"

She said this part jokingly, but she was very concerned about what he was thinking. "Sure, of course! What sort of cake is this?"

[lackofdarkwings.livejournal.com]

"Ah more or less," laughed Matt. "He's been convincing me to deal with our relationship a little more like a guy than wussing around. But y'know, it's Zetta. He never says anything indirectly."

"Strawberry and cream," said Matt. "I've been needing something sweet but fruity."

[kaya-waterwave.livejournal.com]

Kaya laughed at this. "Trust me, if there's anything the Overlord does, he does it bluntly, without holding back! I'll be happy when this de-aging stuff is over though: he was hitting on me pretty badly recently. It was both funny and awkward!"

That was so like him. "I've really missed you, do you know that?"

[lackofdarkwings.livejournal.com]

"Really? He's de-aging too? He didn't seem like it." said Matt with an upraised eyebrow.

He smiled as he opened the cake which read "Happy Birthday" with a blank space under it. "The only one we had right now at the lounge."

[kaya-waterwave.livejournal.com]

Kaya looked surprised? "Really? The Overlord I know is a book, and he definitely isn't that right now: he's in his demon body, and I ca tell he's not really hoping to turn back to his old self anytime soon. His wants are pretty funky though."

She looked over at the cake, curious. "Aw, it actually isn't anyone's birthday? Sorry to hear that."

Kaya put her hands to his shoulders. "That darkness from before: is it still bothering you?"

[lackofdarkwings.livejournal.com]

"GlaDOS, remember? I hadn't noticed this till now... oh wait, there was the previous meeting before I got podded. Never mind, my bad." Clearly he had forgotten the way he rubbed his head.

"Not yet. But I'm sure it is somewhere."

Biting the inside of his lip, he shook his head. "It's fine, so far at least. It hasn't emerged at all since I was released."

[kaya-waterwave.livejournal.com]

Kaya laughed lightly. "I've had more than my fair share of mistakes, not to mention more than enough run ins with Overlord Zetta. For some reason, he has a bit of a soft spot for me, probably you too. Just never tell him that to his face."

"Are you sure?" Kaya showed genuine concern, and looked more than a little pained. "I'm sorry I haven't been around, to be here to watch over you. I'm...sorry for a lot of things."

[lackofdarkwings.livejournal.com]

"He's a demon. Getting him to admit anything close to feelings would probably cause him to deny it rapidly," chuckled Matt, cutting into the cake.

He nodded. "I'm fine, really. I just needed time to clear my head. Fighting the darkness is weird when its your own body rebelling against it."

[hisfathersstaff.livejournal.com]

The door opened up as Negi in his adult form looked down at Kaya. "Hey!" he exclaimed happily. "I wasn't expecting company. Come on in Oneesama!"

He looked a little tired, but smiling all the same despite his adult state. "Only way the kids'll stay with me," he explained. "They'll listen to me cause I can get older."

[kaya-waterwave.livejournal.com]

Oneesama. She hadn't been called that in a long time, and hearing it now made her heart jump. She smiled, giving him a gentle hug, and looked over his shoulder.

"There are more kids huh?" She let out an exasperated sigh. "I've been working in the med bay, and just recently was running after a young Ronnae with rocket boots. I never thought I'd say this, but I'm a little tired of kids!"

Which was rare for her: she always liked the ones on the ship just...not so many who were once adults.

"Which ones are here?"

[hisfathersstaff.livejournal.com]

"To be fair? Only Ren. And Devlin went and skipped out on me," said Negi tiredly as he hugged her back. "And I get the feeling. I was at the sleepover and I felt incredibly awkward about it. Like I kind of didn't belong there."

Maybe it was the added years on him, but Negi seemed old at that moment. "Come on in, I've got a pie baking."

[kaya-waterwave.livejournal.com]

Kaya shook her head. "I already work with them, I have no business being at a sleepover! Besides, of course they're going to be a difference: you're a kid on this ship, and they're getting a free pass at reliving their childhood, most of them. By all purposes, you've been through a lot for a kid. You belong with us jaded grownups!"

She ruffled his hair. "Oh, wonderful! What kind of pie?"

[hisfathersstaff.livejournal.com]

"Yeah. If anything it's a study in weirdness. I'm surprised the others fit in so well but aw well." he shrugged.

"Blueberry, or at least something close to it. It's a little more tart than blueberries."

[kaya-waterwave.livejournal.com]

She shrugged. "People are different, but something abut being a kid can be a little universal. I guess it really comes down to what kind of life they had as a kid, most usually have a somewhat decent life, if they didn't have a war to deal with."

Kaya walked in, giving the place an appreciative look. "Wow...I really missed this place. How are you and Asuna, you and Sasami?"

[hisfathersstaff.livejournal.com]

"That's true. If they haven't had a childhood, or a good one, reliving it can be a joy," said Negi with a half grin, leading Kaya into the kitchen area.

"Pretty well actually. I know Asuna's been worried lately since the people who like her has been repodded, but Sasami and I are doing okay. I do hope she chooses well on how she's going to get strong though." added Negi.

[kaya-waterwave.livejournal.com]

Kaya smiled. "I might have liked that. Mine wasn't horrible, but we always knew there was a war, and we were led to believe that the men of our Nation would do everything they could to protect us. So its the kind of childhood you have where you're just waiting for the other boot to drop, so to speak."

It was a term she learned on the ship, and it seemed to first the situation.

"I'd like to see Asuna again. She seemed like a sweet girl, and she was always nice to Matt. I'm sorry her friends have been podded: that's never the easiest thing to deal with. I'm glad to hear thing are good with you and Sasami though: I was worried, after that whole attack from before. But what did you mean about her getting strong?"

[hisfathersstaff.livejournal.com]

"Yeah that's true. I know there's going to be a lot of grumpy people when everyone's back to normal. Or moreso." he sighed a little. "I've been an adult more this week than need be."

"Asuna's like that," he said with a smile. "I should save her some pie for later."

He blinked. "You didn't know? Sasami's looking for a way to harness her powers. I'm trying to figure out how to help her, but usually finding your own way is a good idea."

[kaya-waterwave.livejournal.com]

Kaya shook her head. "I swear, I could use a nice de-aging vacation. I have way too much stuff to worry about, its been so hard the past few weeks. Part of me even thinks a GLADOS trip would be preferable to sitting around and watching things go from bad to worse."

Not that she would let that bring her down. "You do that. Maybe she and I could practice together soon. I've hardly been able to train because of all of the craziness."

Kaya's eyes widened. "No, I haven't. How would she learn that? Is there anyone who can teach her how to use her powers?"

[hisfathersstaff.livejournal.com]

"GlaDOSing is actually kind of fun once you can deal with blocking out the mocking and focus on the logic puzzles," said Negi with a grin as the oven dinged and he slipped on mittens.

"I'll let her know. It'll be interesting to see Waterbending up against her swordplay." added Negi.

"I'm not sure. All I can think of is magic, but she ranges into the divine. I'm not entirely sure how far she could take my usual spells," said Negi.

[kaya-waterwave.livejournal.com]

Kaya shook her head. "I've never been, is it really that interesting? All I ever hear are people cursing at a thing called GLADOS and something about cake. No one ever really gets to that cake, do they?"

She grinned. "I think that would be pretty neat too. She sounds like she could even go at her with my Bene Gesserit fighting style."

Kaya thought a moment. "Maybe the Overlord? I'm not sure."