The artificial sun within TSAB HQ was beginning to dip deep into the horizon as Hayate and Reinforce conversed animatedly. Their expressions ran nearly the whole spectrum of emotions from joy to sadness. On occasion, Yuuno would hear their laughter over a particularly amusing tale and it would bring a smile to his face. The exception being one particularly embarrassing tale involving himself and Hayate's earlier attempts at stuffing him into a costume. A loose thread catching on a door latch had left him feeling rather... exposed at a most inopportune moment.
Taking note of the time, Yuuno entered the computer room next to the dining room. He interrupted during a lull in the conversation. "Excuse me. But its getting late and I was wondering what you'd like for dinner, Hayate. I don't have a whole lot at the moment, but I can order take out if you'd rather have that."
"Oh! Its really that late already?" A surprised Hayate turned to look out the window and saw that it was indeed starting to darken outside. She took on a contemplative look, crossing her legs in the process.
"Well, you were out of it for six or so hours. I'm going to assume that your Knights know you're here?" When they'd first started this system, there had been a slight misunderstanding about which blonde friend Hayate had stayed with. That hadn't gone over very well, particularly in regards to Zafria. The man had discovered that his inner overprotective father instinct went the whole nine yards. He'd had actually acquired a shotgun when all four Knights had sat the librarian down to discuss the details.
The Shield Knight still had the weapon so far as Yuuno still knew.
"Mhm. I sent them a message while I was on my way over. Signum offered to come get me, but she sounded about as beat as I did so I told her to not worry and get some rest when she got home." She confirmed while recalling where the other three were. If she remembered correctly, Shamal was working a late shift at the hospital, Zafira was on a date with Arf, Zwei was with Signum, and Vita was working late with Nanoha. "I'll have to let them know about this pretty soon. I wonder if I can get tomorrow off and bring everyone over..."
"That would be most prudent, Mistress." Confirmed Reinforce with a nod.
"Now then, dinner. Hmm... What do you have, Yuuno?"
Adjusting his glasses, Yuuno went over a mental inventory of his kitchen. "Let's see... I've got some ground beef, salad fixings, pasta, tomato sauce, leftover stew..." There was probably more, but he was cut off.
"Lets do pasta! I haven't had that in ages." Exclaimed the now sparkly eyed brunette.
"Not since the thermite incident?" Reinforce raised an silver eyebrow at Yuuno's question.
"Thermite?" Reinforce could only begin to speculate as to what the link between pasta and thermite was.
"I'll tell you about it later, Reinforce." Hayate suppressed a wince as she recalled the aftermath of that particular venture. Needless to say that until Shamal managed to successfully prepare food that did not involve calling the hazmat team or the bomb squad to clean up the results, she wasn't going anywhere near a kitchen without strict supervision.
"Well I'd best get started then. You like meat sauce with your pasta, right?"
Nodding, Hayate stood. "Let me give you a hand. Do you mind, Reinforce?" While she wouldn't have minded continuing to talk with her long lost family member, she didn't want to continue taking advantage of Yuuno. He put her up for the night more often than not, was helping to bring Reinforce back to her family, and now making dinner. Helping out with the cooking was the least she could do, right?
The silver haired device shook her head. "I do not mind, Mistress. It only seems appropriate, considering all that he is doing for us. We can continue later."
Knowing better than to argue against the resolute look now on Hayate's face, Yuuno gave a chuckle before looking towards Reinforce's monitor. "Is there anything I can do for you before we get started, Reinforce?"
"I already have access to the files that I require, but may I ask something... unusual?" It was an odd sight to see a being who hosted such massive power fidget. At Yuuno's confused nod, she continued. "Would you turn the display so that I may see the two of you work?"
Yuuno blinked at the odd request while Hayate stifled a giggle. "Sure." After adjusting the monitor so that Reinforce could see into the kitchen, the lack of large walls making it a rather simple task, he went with the brunette to begin prepping dinner.
Reinforce watched silently as the two set to work. It was an interesting sight for the device. The wheelchair bound little girl whom she had last seen all those years ago, and never expected to see again, had grown up into a fine young woman. A commander in an inter-dimensional military and police force no less. Her movements spoke of confidence, power, and happiness with her place in life. No doubt being surrounded by such close friends and family had helped her grow up so well. It saddened Reinforce that she had not been a part of those times.
A peal of laughter broke the device out of her musings. It seemed that Yuuno's culinary skill shared some parallels with Knight Shamal's if the few tales she'd been told were accurate. Fortunately his mishaps seemed more humorous than explosive. As Reinforce watched her Mistress pluck the errant carrot slice off of the blonde's forehead and pop it into her mouth, she wondered just how close the two were.
Her Mistress had made no mention of any kind of romantic relationship thus far. Was it because she simply hadn't mentioned it or was there simply not one to begin with? She certainly seemed work driven and that would certainly make it difficult to find someone to form that kind of relationship with. Not to mention she already had a close family in the Wolkenritter.
A family she could be a part of again if everything went well... Reinforce's digital heart swelled in happiness at the prospect. The time she'd spent with everyone in the short span between the defeat of the defense program and her sealing had been some of the happiest memories she had. Watching Hayate play with Nanoha and Fate. Mealtime with the Knights and her Mistress' cooking. Even being groped in the bath was a pleasant memory.
She was looking forward to seeing everyone again and being able to meet her... daughter? if the term properly applied. That would certainly be an interesting meeting owing to the how the device had come to be. Was she the mother? Was her Mistress the mother? Hayate had only briefly mentioned that Zwei was born from both hers and Reinforce's linker core information, not going into great detail.
A large cloud of steam caught Reinforce's attention as Yuuno drained the large pot of spaghetti through a colander. The steam fogged his glasses, which Hayate cleared up with a dish towel so that he could see again. There was a synergy between the two that indicated they'd done this before. It was in the way they moved around each other, a familiarity of situation. The device wondered if either had this kind of rapport with anyone else.
A slightly puzzled look graced her features as she watched Yuuno grab hold of a small folding table. Hauling it into the computer room, the librarian cleared some space and set it up next to the desk where Reinforce's display was placed.
"You didn't think we were going to leave you alone while we ate, did you?" A smile was on Yuuno's face as he took note of Reinforce's mild confusion.
The thought hadn't actually crossed her mind until he'd mentioned it. "While I am yet unable to partake of a meal, I thank you for your consideration."
"Its no problem, Reinforce. Between you and me, I think Hayate's already got something planned for when we get you out of there." He nodded before going off to grab a pair of chairs.
As he did so, Hayate maneuvered around to bring the steaming plates of dinner to the table. "No spoiling the surprise, Yuuno!" She admonished in a teasing tone.
"Yes, dear." Yuuno replied with mock irritation from the kitchen, eliciting a giggle from the brunette.
Eventually the two were seated and with a word of thanks, digging in. For most of the meal, the three made small talk. A few interesting topics came up, including the absurdity of Hayate's day at work and the horrors of the internet according to Reinforce. As a lull in conversation came about when the plates had mostly been emptied, the silver haired device poked at a subject that had been gnawing at her subconscious while watching her MIstress and Yuuno interact.
"Pardon the rudeness, Mistress, but I have a question."
"What's up?"
Reinforce squashed the urge to fidget. It was an action that she'd been doing rather often since her discovery and it was becoming irritating. She glanced at Yuuno and decided to wait on that particular subject, opting to deflect her attention to another concern. One that probably should have been of higher priority considering her past. "I... am curious as to what we are going to do about the authorities."
"You mean the issue about your connection to the defense program, right?" Clarified the commander, to which Reinforce nodded.
Yuuno seemed to come to a horrifying realization as to what exactly would happen if high command found out about Reinforce. His eyes widened and his fork slipped from suddenly numb fingers. Fortunately the utensil fell back onto the plate with a clank.
Hayate waved her hands in a placating manner to both of them. "Don't worry, I've got an idea. Not the greatest idea, mind you, but an idea nonetheless." A self satisfied smile graced her features as both device and librarian looked to her with hope in their eyes. "Yuuno, you and I worked together to make Zwei. What's to say you haven't found something new that would let us make another Unison Device and I'm commissioning your work?"
"That. That could work." Yuuno's mouth began to work again. "Its a big gamble that could end horribly, but it could work."
"Isn't that illegal, Mistress?" Reinforce asked carefully.
Shaking her head, Hayate continued. "Actually no. Officially, this is just the commissioning of a new device. Plus, the two of us are known to have the most legitimate expertise with Unison Devices so it shouldn't raise too many questions. We can also say that Reinforce 'Drei' is intended for Yuuno, who well known to not own a Device himself."
The brunette's words calmed Yuuno's nerves as the logic assuaged his concerns. "They may ask where I got the data and why I'm building a device after all this time. Also, why I'm building it myself and why a Unison Device of all things... But those are fairly easy to deal with. This just leaves the damaged code to deal with and making sure my spell theory pans out."
It was rather amazing to Reinforce, just how quickly her Mistress had thought up how to deal with what was likely their greatest external foe and how well Yuuno had adapted to that plan. She wasn't too fond of the name 'Drei' though.
"I can't help you with the actual spellwork or coding, but I can make sure that no one bothers you." Hayate's confidence was infectious.
The fact that they were trying to revive a woman of mass destruction didn't bother them in the slightest if it really even crossed their minds. To them, they were bringing back a friend and family member with failure being wholly unacceptable.
A chime from Yuuno's antique clock broke through their discussion. Noting the time, both commander and librarian realized just how late it was. While Hayate wasn't as tired owing to her impromptu nap from earlier in the day, she still had work in the morning. Yuuno, on the other hand, had been working for almost the entire day and was ready to collapse onto his bed.
Still, dinner had to be cleaned up and the dishes washed. He forced himself to make sure that dishes were always done after eating owing to the last time he'd been negligent. Cleaning dishes wasn't supposed to involve duels with fungus armed with knives and forks.
As he was standing to take the dishes, Hayate stopped him. "I'll take care of this. You're starting to look more beat than I did when I got here."
"You sure?" It was a hesitant question.
She began pushing him towards the bathroom, "Yes, yes. Now go wash up and get to bed, Yuuno. Failure to comply to your Lady Hayate's wishes shall result in punishment." She finished with a wink.
"Alright, I give." Surrendering to his close friend's wishes with a laugh, Yuuno allowed himself to be corralled into the bathroom.
Hearing the shower start up, Hayate nodded to herself and proceeded to gather up the remnants of dinner and take them to the sink. While the brunette was going about her self appointed task, Reinforce pondered about their plan. It was certainly risky and there were dangerous obstacles ahead of them. While still a little apprehensive, she would believe in her Mistress and in Yuuno.
Still, the device wanted to ask about the relationship between the two. There was certainly something there, unless she was misinterpreting what she saw. Deciding that if she was going to ask about it, now was the best chance. "Mistress. There is something that I am curious about, if you do not mind my inquiring."
Since there was only dishes from two people, cleaning up had been quick and easy. Hayate had just turned off the water and was drying her hands when Reinforce called out to her. "What is it, Reinforce?" She approached the display and sat down.
"I hope that I am not too rude in asking, but what is your relationship with Yuuno Scrya?" There, she'd asked it. Reinforce could only hope that her Mistress did not take offense.
Blinking, Hayate seemed a little confused by the device's question. Though the slight pink tinge to her cheeks did not go unnoticed. "Why would you ask something like that?" Her voice had an odd tilt to it when she responded.
"I had not noticed it until I saw the both of you in the kitchen, but there is a... closeness between you and Yuuno, Mistress."
"Well, we are childhood friends and we do work together often... Plus he lets me stay over when I'm too tired to drive all the way home or when the Knights aren't home." The blush was beginning to rise.
Reinforce's ruby eye narrowed slightly. "That sounds perhaps a bit closer than childhood friends... Do you not find Yuuno attractive? Is there a problem with his personality? From what I have been able to discern, he is a good man who would make a most desirable companion."
While superb in the field of offense, Hayate's defenses were not quite at the same level. "I, that is, well..." She stuttered at Reinforce's sudden offense, trying to regain her bearings. "Why are you asking this anyway? He's a good, close friend. That's all."
Reinforce didn't seem all too convinced. What was the saying she'd heard before? 'Methinks the Lady doth protest too much'? "I am simply concerned about your well being, Mistress. Your future prospects is a part of that."
The sound of a door opening interrupted Hayate's response. From the bathroom stepped Yuuno, clad only in dark green pajama pants and his long blonde hair loose. A thin sheen of moisture from the hot shower clung to his skin as steam emanated from the beyond the doorframe. It would seem that the sparring sessions with friends and moving of heavy tomes at the library had done Yuuno quite the favor in keeping him rather fit. Hayate swallowed audibly as she laid eyes upon the man.
"Bathroom's all yours, Hayate. Sorry, but I'll probably be out like a light by the time you're done. If I don't see you before you leave for work, have a good day." He spoke with a smile.
The brunette's blush only intensified as he ruffled her hair slightly and said his good nights to her and Reinforce. When Yuuno had left for the spare bedroom he insisted on using whenever anyone stayed over, Reinforce couldn't help but take a jab at her Mistress' flustered state. "Perhaps a cold shower is in order?"
"I am going to give you such a groping."
"Myself or Yuuno?" Teasing was rather fun, noted Reinforce.
To her credit, Hayate managed to stifle the trickle of blood from her nose before it got on the carpet.