[DezoPenguin]

Originally Posted by Moczo

All right.

DC seems to have the thread focused on this, so I can hardly not contribute to the Hayate/Vivio FEVAH, right? XD

Granted, as is my wont, I've chosen to take a slightly differing viewpoint on the relationship between the two. One that, I hope, will be appreciated.

Or laughed at.

Really, mostly the second.

Raiser, your ficlet was also a major source of inspiration for me here, so thank you as well. I hope you enjoy the fruits of your inspirationing. Inspirationizing. ... I hope you like it.

Spoiler for Alternative Viewpoints:

Vivio paced back and forth outside the office, unsure if this was the right path. If there was a right path for a situation like this.

No. No, no matter what happens, I have to do this. I have to be honest, with myself… and her.

And with that thought, Vivio stepped forward into the office of Hayate Yagami to do the hardest thing she’d ever done.

Hayate looked up as the younger woman entered her office, her smile illuminating the room. Vivio’s heart sank. This was going to be… much harder than she’d thought.

“Vivio, come in,” Hayate said warmly. “How are you? Is there something I can help you with? You know you can ask me anything.”

“… right. Um… General Yagami…” Vivio began.

“No need for ranks between us, Vivi.” Hayate said with a cheerful grin. “I mean, you’ve been my assistant for months and one of the most important people in my life for years. Please, call me Hayate.”

“Right. Hayate.” Vivio said, feeling her blood turn to ice. “Hayate… there’s something I really need to talk to you about.”

“Hmmmm? Are you all right? Is there something wrong?” Hayate asked, her expression turning solemn.

Oh, God, she’s really, really worried about me. That just makes this a million times worse. Vivio thought. “Um… okay. Actually, yes. Something is wrong. Very wrong. And it’s about you.”

“Eh? Vivio… please. If I’ve done something offend you…” Hayate began.

“No. Not… offend, exactly.” Vivio said. “It’s like this. I’ve known you all my life… or as long as I’ve known I had a life, I know that’s not the same thing, exactly. But lately, I’ve noticed some things… changing. Ever since I turned twelve or so, really, but I don’t think I wanted to admit it…”

“Vivio…” Hayate said. “… please. Just tell me what’s…”

“All right. All right.” Vivio interrupted. “It’s best to just come out and say it, you’re right.

“Hayate… I’m not in love with you.”

Hayate’s expression resembled that of someone who has just opened her eyes first thing in the morning to find her alarm clock has inexplicably transformed into a fish.

The older woman, a renowned military officer and politician who made public speeches on a daily basis, opened her mouth several times, but no sound came out. Finally, after a positively Herculean effort, she managed to produce, “… … … huh?”

“I’m sorry. I didn’t want to tell you this… I know how much you like me. You’ve never said it, but you made your feelings very clear.” Vivio said apologetically.

“… … … I have?” Hayate croaked.

“The way you’re nicer to me than everyone else… the constant little smiles and efforts to remove formality between us… the way you picked me out of every other officer in the service to be your personal assistant...”

“Vivio! I… none of that was done for…” Hayate began, but oddly enough having a gigantic dose of confusion injected directly into her brain was affecting her eloquence, and Vivio was on a roll.

“Oh, I’m sure you’d say it was just because we’re like family, but I know better.” Vivio said. “I’ve seen how you smile when you see me.”

“No you haven’t!” Hayate fairly well shrieked. “Trust me! Really! I smile like that at everybody!”

“Oh, Hayate.” Vivio said, tears gleaming in her eyes. “Maybe… maybe you could get away with that. If it weren’t for… for…”

She stopped at this moment, not sure how to put this. “The… the…” Another deep breath, another effort to calm her heart. “… the groping.”

“… … … … …” Hayate said. Vita always did warn me that would come back to bite me some day. I just didn’t listen because I was feeling her up at the time. Possibly a mistake.

“God, you have no idea how uncomfortable that made me. I’ve known you since I was six! You’re like my aunt! And I could have ignored all the rest of it, but… I mean, it started as soon as I hit puberty and never stopped, even once I was your assistant! I… Aunt Hayate… I have to call you ‘aunt’, I’m sorry, because I need to remind you what we are to each other… Aunt Hayate, I tried to ignore it, because I love you and I didn’t want to break your heart, but that’s sexual harassment. More, it just made me feel so wrong. Like I was bathing in eel slime.”

“… … … … I’m sure it wasn’t that bad…” Hayate muttered.

“Vile. Sick. Uncomfortable in my own skin.” Vivio said, shuddering.

“Just a bit of affection, really, meaningless…”

“Like… like a piece of meat being pawed at by some vile old butcher, his apron covered in grease and blood from the other helpless animals he’s victimized, but I couldn’t say anything because you’re family and--” Vivio said, her tone haunted.

“All right! I get it!” Hayate snapped. “I… Vivio, I’m sorry, but really, skinship isn’t anything terribly unusual. It’s just… well, just how some women interact in a public bath, and…”

“Oh, Aunt Hayate.” Vivio said, tears glittering in her eyes. “Still trying to deny it… I understand. This must be so hard for you.”

“Well, yes, but not in the way you seem to think it is." Hayate admitted.

"I really am sorry. I understand how you feel… I’m young, vibrant, energetic. I know that can be alluring to a woman of your age…”

“A woman of my WHAT?!”

“… but that’s just one more problem in this long list of problems, you see?” Vivio said. “I’m half your age! Even if we weren’t family, it should be obvious that I’m too young for you.”

“Yes! Yes, of course you are, but not because I'm old or anything, I have to stress th—“

“Shhhh.” Vivio said, pressing a finger to Hayate’s lips to silence her. “I know. I know that you’d say anything to avoid admitting your true feelings. I understand that, now… it’s easier to go into denial than to face the pain. And it must be even harder for you… at your age, you must be wondering if you’ll ever meet anyone else ever again!”

“… Okay, seriously now Vivio, just how old do you think I am?!” Hayate asked.

“But I know you will, Aunt Hayate. You really are a wonderful person, and I know you’ll meet someone who can be the love you deserve. It just… won’t be me.” Vivio said. With a sad smile, she turned to leave the office. “I… I think you should look for a new assistant. And… really, stop with the groping. You’re going to get sued.”

The young woman turned and left, leaving Hayate staring blankly at the closed door.

“Um… Signum?” She said, keying the comm system.

“Yes, Mistress?” The Knight of the Sword said, answering the communiqué from her own office.

“I need you to contact Nanoha and tell her that her daughter is requesting a transfer for… um… personal reasons, I suppose. … and Signum, by chance, do you ever think my skinship habit might send the wrong message somet—“

“Yes.” Signum said without hesitation.

“… … … … … that will be all, thank you.”

Hayate briefly sat back, contemplating the day’s events. Then, in the grand tradition of all great authority figures, she reached into her desk, pulled forth a bottle of something very, very strong, and poured herself a shot.

“Computer, take a memo. Interviews for my new assistant start tomorrow… and, um, just to be safe, perhaps you should find me a copy of Midchildan sexual harassment laws and get me the number of a good lawyer.” She said.

She threw her head back and downed the glass in one go.

“Maybe I am getting old.” She muttered.

LOL! Excellent! We've been taking the concept way too seriously lately.

hee hee..."bathing in eel slime"

...Glad Nanoha and Fate weren't listening outside the door for that one!