trans_9 | Gift of the Magi (Except with way less situational irony) [closed]

< Hello Councilor, > Ax said formally, moving out from behind his work station. He'd only remembered after he'd offered to help that he'd been trying to avoid Hiccup. Not because he had any particular quarrel with the human, just...well, the Animorphs had made it clear that they found the Andalite view of vecols inappropriate. Most people on the ship likely agreed with them, so Ax had just worked to avoid situations where culture-clash might come up.

Still, he had offered, and Hiccup was here now, so he would just have to deal with it.

< Is that the axe? > he asked, nodding his head at the thing strapped to Hiccup's back.

"Aximili, right?"

He'd taken to trying to memorize names, even of crew members he didn't know well.

"And yep, this is it."

He unbundled it from the protective cloth wrapped around it, and gently laid it down on a work table.

It was something of a masterpiece, made from the lightest, strongest metals he could barter for, sharpened to a razor's edge to start with. Intricate designs were etched with great care all over the finished parts, everywhere that wasn't near the blade since he knew that might have to be changed. There were dragons and trees and winding knots, there were vines that turned to ocean waves. When looking at them individually, they were lovely, but altogether, it painted a picture of their island home.

He was by no means a master like Daja, but a weapon like this showed that someday he might be.

< Yes, that's my name, > Ax answered. He leaned over the weapon on the work table, eyes wide as he inspected the etchings on the metal and the sharpness of the blade.

< This is beautiful, > he said, a little begrudgingly. There were some Andalite artists that would be pleased to have made something like this. < You mentioned that you wanted to put a sharper edge on it? >

"Something a bit beyond what I could make, if you know what I mean. I was reading something on monofilament edges?"

He got his his omnicom and held it out to show Ax.

"Or something with laser edges."

He pulled up an article and schematics that he hadn't created, of something like a lightsaber, where the edge was bent around the normal edge of an alien bladed weapon. He'd done a lot of research.

"I just don't understand how to actually make things like that, even after reading about them and seeing the plans. I don't know enough science yet. I'm good at mechanics, not electronics."

Edited 2011-07-23 03:13 (UTC)

It was a little hard not to notice Hiccup - his was a face Jamie didn't see much around Special Weapons. Even though their contact had mostly been limited to missions Jamie would just as soon forget had ever happened, the younger boy had always been friendly to him, and Jamie figured it wouldn't hurt to return the favor, if only so he felt a little less guilty about his own lack of reciprocity. It might appease Samson to know he was trying to socialize more, too, if and when the shrink ever got him in for a follow-up evaluation.

So when Hiccup's business with Aximili seemed to have concluded, Jamie made his way over, on the pretense of looking for something Engineering-related near Hiccup's general location, and said awkwardly: "That's a nice axe."

It was finished at long last, tested, and the final touches had been put on it.

That meant it was time to find Astrid.

The axe bundled in cloth and strapped to his back, Hiccup started his search for her at her usual haunting grounds.

Hiccup's expression was inscrutable after talking to Ax but it warmed up when he saw Jamie.

"Thanks! I put a lot of work into it, but I needed some help making the blade a little more high tech. It's for my girlfriend. Hence needing to make sure it was extra-deadly. She's something of a connoisseur of bladed weaponry. Very discriminating."

"What'd you end up doing to it? You were aiming for something like a laser blade, right?" He'd seen Hiccup's channel post, but as Aximili had gotten to it first Jamie hadn't given it much thought after that.

"...or did you change your mind about the rocket booster idea?"

That might have been an attempt at a joke.

Locating its recipient should be a cinch for Hiccup. Off-duty, Astrid preferred to stay in the living area of the ship most of her free time, and today was no exception.

In the Sensoriums she busied herself with improving her flexibility, practicing some stretches, somersaults, and other miscellaneous exercises. So upon entering, he was guaranteed to find her executing a double back handspring.

Instantly cue a gobstopped, dopey expression on his face. His admiration for Astrid's badassery and never-ending fount of determination was something that wasn't going away anytime soon. Still, as unbelievable as it was, there was a more pressing matter at hand than watching his girlfriend stretch and flip around. He had a present to give.

Hiccup waited until she nailed the landing and cleared his throat, hoping not to disturb her concentration.

"Hey. Hey, Astrid. Hey."

Oh great, now he was nervous all of a sudden and sounding like the smitten, awkward teenager he'd been before they'd started dating. This wasn't for no reason, however, as he wasn't sure if she'd like her gift. He hoped she would, but the thought occurred to him that he might have put his heart and soul into something she was going to hate. What if she preferred her family axe? What if he'd gotten the weight of it wrong? What if the designs were too pretty and not Vikingly enough?

"I figured it was your birthday. Except it's not your birthday, because we don't know what day it really is. You know, the ship, with time, and the days, it's all really hard to figure out when's when. But I figured it was your birthday or past your birthday, and your sixteenth at that." Still rambling, he went on, "Sooo I got you a present--well no, I made it, actually. I figured you might...like that. Something made over something bought--more personal that way, right? Right."

Bright red in the face, he shrugged the long, top-heavy, cloth-covered bundle off his back.

"To sum up the previous rambling: It's got to be your birthday by now. I made you a present. Here it is."

He held the bundle out, hands trembling slightly.

Hiccup chuckled.

"No rockets. Laser edges, though. They can cut through just about anything. See?"

He picked up the axe, and turned on the edge, which glowed a solid red. Gently lowering it down, it sliced through a scrap metal pipe on the table--and then, though Hiccup didn't intend it--into the table itself.

Grimacing and pulling the axe out of the metal table, he looked at his handiwork guiltily.

"That'll--that'll rub right out."

Jamie was nodding appreciatively even before Hiccup's demonstration; he didn't look too fussed about the damage to the table, since the fixtures were bound to incur some damage eventually anyway.

"Laser edges are pretty lethal. We use 'em on a lot of our weapons back home. On a lot bigger scale than anything a human being could wield, I mean, we're talking fifteen- or twenty-foot laser blades and stuff like that, but yeah, they'll cut through whatever you want cut."

He gave the axe another appraising once-over. "'s a nice weapon. Anybody'd be glad to have something like that."

"...Fifteen-foot tall laser blades?" He raised both eyebrows and whistled a low whistle.

As for the axe, he flicked button that turned the laser edge off.

"Thanks."

A pause.

"And I really mean that. I'm proud of it. And neurotic enough to always wonder if my work is really that good."

He started to bundle the axe up again.

"So how've you been? Where have you been, for that matter? I hardly see you around."

"Well, yeah. They're mounted on fifty-foot-long robot lions, so it makes sense." On Zi, anyway.

He shrugged at Hiccup's thanks, a little uncomfortably; he hadn't thought his words would mean that much. "Wul, I mean. I'm no expert on axe craftsmanship or anything, but it looks pretty nice. And it seems like, y'know. A thoughtful gift. And useful."

He picked up one of the sliced pieces of pipe, idly examining the cut edge while Hiccup put away the axe. "Been all right. Just been around. Working, training, y'know. What about you?"

Unbelievable, huh. If she heard that she would say he gives her too much credit. The lift-off and landing was not too shabby, though of course in Astrid's self-critical opinion, her speed could use a little work.

Double back handspring complete, she steadied on her feet and exhaled, taking a moment to slow her breathing after her consecutive rolling and flipping action. Then realizing she had company, her eyes popped open, and before she could greet him in return, Hiccup was already being all awkward and insisting she take something. A little bewildered at first, Astrid blinked and arched an eyebrow as she patiently watched him, quietly glancing back and forth between him and the something now in her hands. Something... for her birthday?

Putting the birthday thing aside, she squinted and took a gander by lifting a piece of the cloth— and paused abruptly, eyes wide.

That shape was unmistakable. For a moment Astrid's mouth moved but no words came out. What should she say? I'm so happy I should kiss you?

"Ishouldhityou," she breathed out eventually.

Close enough.

"As long as you don't hit me with the axe, I'm okay with that," he said graciously, pulling the rest of the cloth away.

The metal was polished brightly, causing the carvings to stand out starkly--trees and rolling waves, dragons, mountains, all made of designs that were twisting knots from afar.

"There's something special about it, though. I think you'll like this."

He flipped a button-guard, pressed a button, and the edge of the axe glowed an angry red. Then he walked over to a nearby tree and swung the axe, slicing through it like butter, leaving the edges of the cut tree glowing with orange embers. Jumping out of the way of the falling tree, he flicked the button off, and went back over to her.

"I got some help from one of the people in Engineering to figure out how to make it do that. I figure it'd cut through an Ohm's exoskeleton much more easily."

He held the axe out to her.

"The Council thing is running me ragged. So's the fact I'm one of two blacksmiths on the ship. There's a lot of people that still use metal weapons."

An awkward silence cut in, and then he asked slowly, "You've been okay, right? I mean, not that I like to dwell on it, but I know you went through a lot. Just as much as I did."

Well, not quite, since Jamie'd been spared the stomach-bursting business, but Hiccup figured he'd know what he meant.

"I just mean...it's a little worrying never seeing someone around after all that."

Have you been hiding from the world, Jamie?

Astrid's expression had a variation of shock and amazement. Now that is fricken' awesome. That will definitely come in handy for sure!

She shook her head, the biggest grin on her face, gladly accepting his extravagant gift. "I...I shouldn't be surprised. You're so talented." Smiling, she added, "And thoughtful. Hiccup... thank you. I'll treasure it."

Giddy, her fingers folded over the handle fondled and twitched restlessly. Excited, though unsure of what to do with it. It was like she was given an axe for the first time again. "It's very cool! So you did this for my birthday," she laughed, twirling the weapon once. "Sixteen. I'm getting old."

There was a funny moment where she attempted a pose, now shouldering it with a smirk. "How do I look?"

Jamie shot him a somewhat suspicious sidelong glance, wondering where this was coming from. Being friendly to someone wasn't the same as being friends with them; Jamie couldn't imagine that Hiccup had any vested interest in his well-being. He hid his discomfort by busying himself with picking up the halves of pipe and tossing them into a container of other scrap. "I'm fine. Like I said, just busy. We don't move in the same circles, it's not surprising you don't see me as often as you think you should."

He reined himself in. People inquiring as to his state of mind, no matter how well-intended, made him defensive, but there was no point letting it show.

"There's nothing to worry about," he went on more evenly. "Thanks for asking, but I'm fine."

"You look positively ancient," Hiccup joked. "At your decrepit sixteen years of age. You're right up there with old Gothi."

Backing away slightly lest she try to smack him, he grinned widely and said, "I'm joking, I'm joking. You look--" He had to take in a deep breath here, because she looked...that good "--ready for anything. Which is how you usually look, but now you have an axe that can cut through solid steel, so there's that extra edge of intimidation."

Edited 2011-07-29 06:58 (UTC)

"Hilarious," Astrid snorted good-naturedly. He was fortunate she was in such good spirits, simply tolerating his sarcasm for now.

Her attention was drawn back to the axe leaning against her shoulder. "...you're not kidding. It feels awesome and completely different than when you rebalanced my mother's axe for me. You sure have some sort of gifted touch when it comes to these things, Hiccup." She chuckled lightly and gave an approving nod as she admired its contour and art detail. "Of course always a full service outfit, right?"

Hiccup's eyebrows nearly disappeared into his hairline.

"Yeeaah. It's...better balanced this time."

What had really happened to the Hofferson axe was better left unsaid. Forever.

"I measured your arms to make sure the handle would be the right length."

In her sleep.

"Anyway, are you going to try it out?"

That was an odd reaction. And when did he take her measurements?

Guess it was a good thing she was half paying attention, currently fascinated with safely holding the advanced axe out in front of her and testing the button, making the neat, glow feature awaken repeatedly.

Well someone's primitive nature was showing. Apparently she noticed it, too, evident by the not-so furtive side glance and gentle name-calling for asking her the obvious.

"O-of course, stupid."

Just.. give her another second to get fully acquainted, will ya.

"Should I leave you two alone?" Hiccup joked, in regards to how she was handling the thing.

It was a pretty daring thing for him to do given that it was an axe she was holding.

"You don't have to be--"

Defensive? He didn't want to call him defensive because it might make him more defensive, but he sounded a little defensive.

"Look, you've had my back a few times now. You're the only reason I got out of there--out of...you know--alive. You got us all out and if I hadn't gotten back to the ship when I did..."

He just left that to the imagination, busying himself with cleaning up another section of the worktable, as if that would somehow make up for the big cut in it.

"And you're always really quiet when I do see you. I just--I know we're not exactly friends." Yet. "But I just was wondering how you were doing. Especially since Fairplay wasn't so great, either."

Guess what, Jamie, it is vested interest in your well-being.

Gift of the Magi (Except with way less situational irony) [closed]

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jumping in with permission from Saphie

Later...

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Reposting from gmail!