Instances of Gratitude

“How’d we get here, Fate-chan?”

“Did we take a wrong turn, somewhere?”

“How’d you get us lost?!”

“I, ah…I don’t know…”

“Eheheh…funny story…I think I gave her an old map.”

“Nanoha-chan!”

The Road Trip

Takamachi Nanoha was through with riddles.

“That’s it! I can’t stand it anymore!”

She opened the storage compartment in her friend’s car, tossed the little book in, and closed it. Fate peered at her from the driver’s side, the corners of her lips twitching. Hayate grinned in amusement.

“I knew she wouldn’t last an hour.” She stated happily, before turning to Arisa on her left. “Pay up, blondie.”

The girl scowled. “Damn it, Nanoha-chan!”

She unhappily handed over some money as the slate blue eyed girl twisted around in her seat and glared at her.

“You act like it’s my fault.”

“It is!”

From her seat in the middle, Tsukimura Suzuka sighed and exchanged smiles with Fate through the rearview mirror. “Ara…I told you not to take such a silly bet, Arisa-chan.”

“Mou,” The girl pouted, “You be quiet.”

“Do I sense trouble in paradise?” Hayate quipped, and was promptly pinched by Suzuka.

“Of course not.” She said, and smiled pleasantly at her before looking at Arisa straight in the eyes. “Right, Arisa-chan…?”

Nanoha felt a deep sense of satisfaction when the girl flinched nervously and edged as far away from her girlfriend as the car would allow. Which was two centimeters. At best. And it was a pretty cramped car.

“Ah…” Hayate grinned and spread her arms, entirely undeterred by the fact that she was making people feel uncomfortable. “I need to embrace it all. How could this trip possibly be better?”

“Bigger car?” Fate suggested wryly.

“Bah.” The brown haired girl airily waved it off. “Those kinds of things don’t matter. It’s the company that makes it memorable.” She suddenly grinned. “It’s just me, my friends who are blatant lesbians and jump each other whenever possible, and my other two friends who are ambiguously gay.”

Suzuka’s hand suddenly froze on Arisa’s thigh.

Damn it. The girl scowled. Foiled again.

“A-ambiguously gay?!” Nanoha sputtered, blushing.

Fate flushed prettily, and, swallowing dryly, glowered at Hayate through the rearview mirror. “Says the girl who has a thing for my twin sister.”

It was Hayate’s turn to act self-conscious.

“It’s just for her, okay?” She pouted, “She’s hot. You can’t blame me.”

Nanoha frowned.

“…If it’s just for her looks,” She began, voice dangerously low, “…then wouldn’t you have a thing for Fate-chan as well?”

The car swerved on the road. Fate quickly regained control.

“Nanoha…!” She protested, “Don’t say things like that while sounding so serious!”

Hayate grinned slyly while Nanoha glared in her direction, suddenly feeling hostile. She wasn’t exactly sure why, but the way the other brown haired girl was looking at Fate was enough to raise her hackles.

“Mou, Fate-chan…” The blue eyed girl drew close to the burgundy eyed blonde, whose nervousness grew per heartbeat. “She has a point. You are hot. I could make an exception for you.”

And Nanoha suddenly felt like hissing.

“H-Hayate-chan…!” Fate yelped, feeling the girl’s lips lightly brush her corner of her earlobe. “What are you doing…?!”

The car swerved. Again.

“You know, if this keeps up, Yuuno-kun and the others are going to wonder if something’s wrong.” Arisa commented dryly, thoroughly amused at how the other blonde was reacting.

However, Suzuka was more concerned with the way the other brown haired girl was acting. She could have sworn Nanoha’s lips had been curled into a snarl just a few seconds prior.

‘Oooh…’ She chimed inwardly, ‘There is trouble in paradise.’

“Hayate-chan…leave Fate-chan alone, would you? Be monogamous.” Nanoha said, huffing and crossing her arms over her chest.

She leaned back in her seat and stared out the window.

“Oh, but Nanoha-chan! Haven’t you ever wondered what it would be like to have a threesome with twins?!”

Fate had a sudden coughing fit. So did Nanoha. Suzuka burst out laughing while Arisa gaped at Hayate and pictured herself with- she was promptly jabbed in the ribs by her girlfriend.

“You’re shameless, Hayate-chan!” The blushing twin exclaimed, trying to focus on her driving skills. “Absolutely shameless!”

“Oh, yes.” The other girl grinned, giggling like a giddy school girl, “You should sleep with an eye open.”

“I’d be scared if I were you, Fate-chan.” Suzuka cooed, and watched Nanoha’s face turn the strangest color.

“Don’t worry, Fate-chan…” Slate blue eyes narrowed at her brown haired friend. “I’ll make sure she never has the chance to touch you…”

Burgundy eyes widened slightly before lips quirked up into a crooked smile. The flush was still visible on pale cheeks. When Nanoha glanced at her, she was momentarily taken aback by how terribly pretty Fate was. She grinned back reflexively, the slightest of curves to her lips.

“Ambiguously gaaaay…” Hayate drawled in a singsong voice, and completely ruined the moment.

Additional Scene:

Alicia leaned against the door frame in nothing but her underwear.

“So you think I’m hot, do you?” The girl hummed and sauntered over to her, "Aren't you glad we get to room together?"

Hayate suddenly found herself wishing she hadn’t said anything earlier.

A/N: Oh, how I love teasing Fate-chan.

And sexy Alicia. Aheh. XD An adorably jealous Nanoha and a perverted Suzuka. Who would've guessed that Arisa was the submissive one in that relationship?