Chapter Text
“You good Mr. Wise?” Seed asked with her head hovering over Wise’s shoulder, cheeks touching and all
“I-I’m fine, just thinking about what I’m going to do today”
“Seed, personal space” Trigger spoke
“Mh, you’re no fun” Seed shifted back to her seat with a pout
“You sure your head is clear?” Carole asked
“Yeah, I’m alright” Wise spoke
“Good, we’re here” Carole suddenly slammed the brake jerking the passengers a little
“Mom, you almost made me spill my juice” Belle clutched onto her bottle
“Sorry” Carole said casually
The group disembarked from the car and Carole drove off
“You should drive more often, I think mom is getting old” Belle spoke to her brother
“I think so too” Wise agreed
“I can’t believe we have a test” Orphie groaned
“Come on Orphie, it’ll be nothing” Belle put a hand on the girl’s shoulder
“Yeah, I think you can ace it with what I’ve seen you accomplish” Wise encouraged prompting the girl to blush
“T-Thanks” Orphie blushed
‘There he goes flirting again’ Belle rolled her eyes
“We should head to the staff room early; I want the nice chair” Trigger said
“The one with the cushion?” Wise asked
“Yes, the one Ms. De Montefio likes to hog”
“I don’t know about that one, but you can try” Wise shrugged
‘They’re so close’ Orphie pouted at Trigger and Wise’s interaction
In the corner of Wise’s eye, he noticed a familiar silver fluff moving
‘It’s her’ Wise turned to see Harin walking over to Magus’s car
‘She’s leaving, I need to take this chance’
“Sorry, I’ll meet you in the brief” Wise excused himself and split from the group
“WE HAVE TO SHARE THE COFFEE!” Seed bellowed
“Come on Seed, to class” Trigger pushed the girl
‘I can smell the spice from Harin, she’s nearby’ Trigger thought
Wise made his way over just as Harin closes her duffel bag in the car trunk
“Oh hey” Wise walked up to her
“Ah, it is you again, uh.....” Harin scratched her head
“Wise” he spoke
“Wise, a nice name” she complemented
“I just arrived to work but I saw you when I was walking here and I-”
“Came over to socialize with me?” she looked up at him
“Yeah, just thought it’d be nice since I’m regularly at your place” Wise chuckled
“I see, so you wish to acquaint yourself with me?”
‘Looks like I can get on her good side’ Wise thought
“Yeah, I think you’re pretty cool so...”
“Hmmm....”
“Very well, please give me your contact details”
“Contact-”
“Phone number or email shall suffice” she spoke
“Uh alright”
Wise recites his phone number to Harin who jots it down on her notepad
“I shall contact you in due time” she spoke as she silently hopped into the vehicle and backed out of the parking spot and drove off
‘Alright, baby steps, I just have to wait for her to call me, it seems Magus might still not know’ Wise thought as he turned to come face to face with none other than Evelyn
“What are you doing near here?”
“Oh me, I was talking to Harin” Wise said
Evelyn looks down to see fresh tire marks
‘Checks out, I’ll let him go’
“Don’t hover by people’s cars, I was about to throw you onto the asphalt” Evelyn warned as she walked off
‘She’s a...strict one’ Wise thought as he left to meet up with Trigger
--------- LATER ON --------
RING! RING!
‘Unknown number?’ Wise looked at the caller ID before the events of earlier flashed in his mind
“Who’s that?” Trigger asked
“Let me answer” Wise pressed the answer button
“Am I speaking to burning Keplar 5?”
“Uh, you’re speaking to Wise”
“Right, I must have forgotten your name”
‘She called so soon, it’s only been 2 hours’ Wise thought
“I had said I shall call in due time”
“Due time being 2 hours?” Wise cocked an eyebrow
Trigger’s ears perked up as she intensified her listening
‘Who’s voice is that? That is a woman definitely’ Trigger thought
“Did you wish I call you straight after?”
“N-No, I don’t have a problem” Wise said
‘Looks like she called me first, that’s good but I can’t clear things up with Trigger here, she can’t catch wind of what happened’ Wise discretely looked at Trigger who sat there casually
“I’m working right now so...”
“So you wish to cut the call short?”
“Yeah, I can text you later” Wise said
“I see” the phone suddenly cut
“Who was that?” Trigger asked
“Don’t worry too much, it’s nothing big” Wise said
“I see” Trigger leaned onto Wise shifting her entire weight onto him
“You’re tired this early in the morning?” Wise chuckled
“It’s not early, the heat is making me a bit drowsy, you don’t mind do you?” Trigger asked
“No not at all, rest as much as you want” Wise shifted his hand around the woman as Trigger tucked closer onto Wise
‘We are still very comfortable; I see it clearly’ Trigger thought as she rested on Wise’s side
“This reminds me of the time we kept taking the wrong bus to town at college” Trigger said
“Oh, when you wanted to hang out that time?” Wise looked down at Trigger
“We were so lost, and it didn’t help that I couldn’t navigate with you” Trigger said
“I didn’t mind it much, at least I got us back to campus even if it was close to evening” Wise smiled as he reminisced
“I remember how it was on the bus; I was resting just like this” Trigger fidgeted for more comfort
“It was hard to tell if you were sleeping” Wise said
“...”
“Trigger?”
“....”
“Trigger?”
“....”
‘Must have fallen asleep’
“Yes?” the woman responded with a playful tone
“Trying to play dead on me?”
“I was really asleep” she laughed
“Yeah right” Wise sighed
‘Maybe I can chill for a bit, worrying about Magus finding out is driving me insane’ Wise thought as he held Trigger at his side
-------- THAT EVENING -------
‘Alright, she’s leaving for her shift again, maybe this time Magus won’t cut in’ Wise walked into the home to find Harin was not dressed in uniform but a casual t shirt and shorts
“Hello Dark Redstone Ember” she casually greeted
“Uh, hey” Wise responded
“His name is Mr. Wise, not Redstone Ember, pineapple ponytail head” Seed said
“I’m not a pineapple, my name is Harin” she corrected
“Don’t mind her too much, she forgets peoples names a lot” Trigger assured
“Uh, are you not going to work?” Orphie asked
“I have changed my shift for Wednesdays; I take the day shift effective of today ” Harin spoke
“Why the sudden change kid?”
“I wish to better socialize with Red Spicy Chili Oil” Harin said
Eyes shifted to Wise almost instantly
“I didn’t know you guys were friends” Orphie said in a meek voice
“Well, we-”
“He approached me with the offer of friendship and we exchanged contacts” Harin cut off Wise
“Oh, so you’re asking my kids for their numbers now?” Magus said with a suppressed aggression
“F-For friendship of course, nothing more” Wise quickly answered
Magus narrowed her eyes at Wise, scanning for anything suspicious
GRUMBLE!
“Ah, Seed is hungry” Seed groaned as she rubbed her stomach
“Y-Yeah, let’s eat dinner” Wise quickly switched up his tune
Magus side eyed the man as she slowly made her way to the kitchen. After a couple of minutes setting up dinner was officially served with everybody now present.
Magus chewed as she glared at Wise intensely
‘This pressure is unreal’ he fidgeted in his seat as he cautiously put rice into his mouth
“You’re sweating Mr. Wise, is the spice too much?” Orphie asked with concern
“Uh...” Wise’s eyes glanced at Magus then back at Orphie
“I’m not used to this level of heat, nothing to worry about” Wise said
“Okay, if you’re okay then I’m fine” Orphie leaned back
‘Shit, watch your mouth Orphie, you might get me killed’ Wise hesitantly looked at Magus who seemed displeased at the interaction
“Speaking of heat” Trigger cut in
“The hot water isn’t getting to lukewarm and below” Trigger brought up to Magus
“Yeah, I don’t like my toes being cold” Seed complained
“That damn heater” Magus grunted
“We should get it fixed, I don’t like cold water on my tail” Orphie twisted the appendage to to her front
“I swear the thing was fixed recently” Magus spoke
“No, that is not true, I had showered two days ago in cold water”
‘She’s talking about that day....’ Wise listened in closely
“Stop lying you brat, it was working two days ago, you must be thinking of another day” Magus shot back
“It was two days ago because that day Wise-”
“S-SO!” Wise cut in
‘She was about to spill the beans’ Wise’s heart paced
“Don’t yell in my house” Magus warned
“Sorry, I-I meant to say I-I can totally fix your heater” Wise said
‘Shit, I should have said something else’ Wise cursed himself
Magus started laughing at his statement
“What’s funny?” Wise asked
“A scrawny nerd like you knows how to fix things like these? This isn’t a Lego set, this is real machinery” Magus said
“Mom” Orphie said with a pout
“In fact, yes, I can very much fix your heater” Wise insisted
The women of the house exchanged looks
“I fixed that thing and it broke down, what makes you think that you can do it better?” Magus pressed
“I fix things at my house, I live with an annoying little sister and nonchalant mom, not to mention I’m the only guy in the house so I kind of have to take that responsibility” Wise explained
“Oh Mr. Big Man here” Magus rolled her eyes
“Aunty...” Trigger said
Magus sighed
“Fine, since you want to prove you’re a macho man, let’s go and fix it” Magus stood up
“M-Mom, are we going now?” Orphie asked
“Yes, right now, it’s a problem isn’t it?”
Wise stood up and followed Magus
“Ooh Ooh, wait for me” Seed got up and zoomed after Magus and Wise
Trigger sighed as she and the other two women got up and followed. The whole group was now posted in the basement with Wise crouched over near the machine.
“Go ahead, fix it” Magus dropped the toolbox next to him
“I have to check it first” Wise said as he analysed the machine
He turned the valve to shut off water completely before scanning the machine
“What’s wrong with it?” Seed rested her chin atop Wise’s head overlooking his progress
“It’s fixable” Wise said as he reached for some tools
‘Nothing too major, I’ve dealt with this before’ Wise thought as he started his work
For a few minutes the others stood there curiously watching as Wise worked
“Alright” Wise used his left hand to hold a pipe in place
“Can somebody pass me the wrench?” Wise asked holding out his right hand
“H-Here” Orphie knelt next to him and handed him the tool
‘This bastard is really fixing it...’ Magus stood somewhat impressed as Wise finished off twisting the nut
“Right, all done” Wise stood up and dusted himself off before opening the valve back up
“You fixed it?” Trigger asked
“Yeah, you should have hot water tomorrow morning” Wise gave them a thumbs up
“So manly” Trigger complemented with a smile
“No big deal” Wise said
“W-Well....” Magus was stumped at the unexpected development
“G-Go tutor Orphie” Magus walked off embarrassed
“Mr. Wise is so cool” Seed clung to the man’s arm
“Seed” Wise said the girl’s name
‘At least Magus is incapacitated for now, less of a chance for her to find out’ Wise celebrated