Holly sat at her desk, the cool metallic surface a stark contrast to the heat of her rising frustration. She'd been doing the paperwork necessary to approve various plans and bills in the city all day, a seemingly endless tide of forms and reports that threatened to drown her in bureaucracy. The paperwork had kept her chained to her desk all day, denying her the chance to ambush Nico. And the reports from the guards... Trina had been spending time with him. 'UNFAIR!' she shouted. Pushing back her chair, she stood and began to pace the length of the room, her boots clicking softly on the polished floor. The office was a minimalist space, designed for efficiency rather than comfort. White walls stretched high to meet the ceiling, reflecting the bright light streaming in from the panoramic window that dominated one wall. A few potted plants provided a touch of green, their presence a silent reminder of the gardens that adorned much of the city. In front of the window, Holly's large desk sat like an island, a scattering of datapads and stylus pens arranged haphazardly across its surface. Two sleek, modern chairs faced the desk, waiting for visitors who rarely came.
"I need to make sure I'm the first person to ambush the next person to return to the city. What if I'm caught up in paperwork when Sabrina, or Kodi come back?!" The words made her feel ill.
Holly stopped at the window, gazing out at the sprawling cityscape beyond. Even the familiar sight of Yunirith City's towering structures and layered roads couldn't soothe her current irritation. With a heavy sigh, she turned back to her desk, her eyes darting across the next set of papers. Taking to her chair she began twirling a strand of her dark blonde hair around one finger, she tried to refocus, but her gaze kept drifting back to the door.
Holly let out a long sigh and let her head hit the desk softly. "A free spirit like me should not be cooped up in this office, it's absolutely criminal, this is practically slavery. A little bird in a cold white cage," she added with a dramatic groan fully, aware of her own melodrama.
She lifted her head grabbing a small stack of paper flipping through them. "Taxes, taxes, taxes..." She muttered, her voice echoing slightly in the large room. "Why did I have to be the one stuck in here doing all the paperwork?"
A soft buzzing sound caught her attention. She glanced at the small holo-screen to her right and saw her security guard, Jacob, buzzing in. With another sigh, she reached over and pressed the receiver.
"What is it, Jacob?." Holly's voice was filled with exasperation.
"Well Lady Holly. Lady Trina, and Lord Nico are heading up now. They barged in and ignored protocols and.." Holly flicked the receiver off, a surge of adrenaline momentarily washing away her annoyance. She hurriedly stamped the papers in front of her with unnecessary force, tossing them aside with a clatter. This development was like a blast of vibrant color in a black and white world. Ever since she had arrived back in the city last week it had been hand over foot paperwork non stop. She unnecessarily and gleefully shoved aside a stack of documents threatening to topple over and littering the floor as she rushed to the door. As it began to swing open, Holly zeroed in on Nico.
"It's about time you got back!!" Holly exclaimed, her voice a mix of joy and excitement. She launched herself at him, her small form a blur of motion, and tackled him to the ground, squeezing him in a tight embrace that threatened to cut off his air. Nico sputtered, his arms trapped between them, as they rolled on the polished floor.
"Okay, okay, I'm back! Can't... breathe..." He struggled against her enthusiastic grip, a half-laugh escaping him despite the pressure. He managed to free an arm punching her face to try and free himself further, only making Holly giggle at his attempt.
Trina rapidly snapped her fingers at them, the sharp clicks echoing in the office. Her expression was a mask of annoyance, her silver brows furrowed, and her amber eyes flashing with exasperation. She signed something quickly with her hands, a series of sharp, decisive movements.
Nico finally managed to peel Holly off him, his white trench coat slightly disheveled,falling off one shoulder. He stood up, offering Holly a hand, which she ignored as she bounced to her feet.
" Yes, it's good to be back." Fixing his coat he glanced around the office, eyeing the stacks of papers on her desk, the stench of ink stamps still fresh. A shudder ran through him, a slight dread of inescapable boredom that would make him regret many many things. He shook the feeling away swiftly. " You uh... seem to be busy. "
Holly grimaced, smoothing down her coat with a dramatic flourish. "Nico, some things are worse than death. Bureaucratic paperwork is one of them."
Nico nodded solemnly, his gaze lingering on the stacks. "I understand your pain, sister. But I also missed you terribly." He gave her a teasing grin.
Holly's eyes sharpened, a sneer crossing her lips. "Liar. You just want me to do your paperwork."
"Guilty as charged," Nico admitted readily. "But I also missed your charming personality."
Holly scoffed,giving him a playful shove. "So where is this wife of yours? The report from the gate said you had a cute girl on your bike!" She jokingly looked left and right, peering behind chairs with one hand shadowing her blue eyes in a mock search.
"Firstly, I literally just met her today, Holly. She is a friend. Someone I saved. Secondly, I left her down in the lobby. It didn't seem appropriate to bring her into a restricted area just because I know her. I can't abuse my position like that." Nico folded his arms proudly, striking a pose of mock righteousness. Inwardly, however, he was less certain. He *was* very aware of how pretty Hinori was. Holly rolled her eyes, looking over at Trina who shrugged.
"So you heroically rescued a girl, and saw to personally take her to a diner in the city. Nico, if that's not the start of a love story I don't know what is." Nico's face flushed red for a moment, betraying his carefully constructed nonchalance, but he recovered quickly, playing it off with a dismissive wave of his hand.
"Forget it! Let's go meet her!" Holly exclaimed, her energetic attitude intensifying to intoxicating levels. She grabbed Trina and Nico by the wrist, her grip surprisingly strong, and dragged them toward the elevator, her white trench coat billowing behind her. Trina, ever silent, offered Nico an apologetic shrug before allowing herself to be swept along.
In moments they were on the first floor, Holly practically vibrating with excitement as she pulled them into the lobby. The space was vast and airy, a bustling hub of Skyflock employees moving about their jobs. Polished marble floors stretched out beneath a high, vaulted ceiling, reflecting the soft glow of embedded light panels. Clusters of plush, curved benches dotted the open area, providing seating for those waiting, while sleek information kiosks lined the walls. Above, a massive holographic display shimmered, cycling through announcements and cityscapes. Several areas of circular desks had small gatherings of employees working over holograms of the city's layout.
Holly's eyes darted around the room, finally landing on a singular girl standing alone near a cluster of plush seating. She was short, almost doll-like, around four foot eight, and had pink and blue cotton candy hair that curled down to the small of her back. Her clothing, a simple dress that stopped at her thighs and leggings, looked travel-worn and slightly out of place amidst the lobby's sleek elegance. Holly instantly darted over to her, leaving Nico and Trina to catch their breath.
Approaching Hinori, she called out, her voice a touch louder than necessary, "Excuse me!" Hinori looked up, startled by the sudden approach. Her expression was vulnerable and worried, her brow furrowed into a small frown, and her lip trembling slightly. The grandeur of the lobby, the sheer number of people moving through the space, and the strange attire of these newcomers was all a bit overwhelming. But Holly's bright smile and open demeanor were strangely disarming.
Holly walked up to Hinori and, with a gentleness that surprised even herself, put her hands on the girl's cheeks. "You're going to be my new sister in law!" Holly declared, her eyes sparkling with genuine excitement as she squished Hinori's cheeks, holding her face and looking deep into her wide, silver eyes.
"Excuse me?" Hinori managed, her voice muffled and slightly high-pitched from Holly's enthusiastic embrace. She blinked, trying to process the declaration and the unexpected physical contact.
"I'm Holly! I'm so very excited to welcome you to the family Hinori!" Holly released Hinori's face and spread her arms wide, embracing the smaller woman into a tight hug. "Hinori, we are going to be the bestest of friends!"
Hinori's face was a mask of stupor as she tried hard to comprehend what exactly was going on. Her gaze darting over Holly's shoulder to Nico for an explanation. Nico, finally catching up, ran a hand through his hair and sighed, a mixture of amusement and exasperation in his green eyes.
"Sorry about her, Hinori. She is just… enthusiastic. Very enthusiastic to meet you." Holly was still embracing Hinori, lifting her slightly off the ground in her enthusiasm.
"Nico, can you get her to let me down? " Holly complied, setting Hinori gently back on her feet. Hinori adjusted her hair, trying to regain some composure, and offered a tentative smile.
"Umm, it's nice to meet you, Holly. I'm Hinori." Holly stepped back, her gaze sweeping over Hinori with a protective intensity. "This precious creature must be protected. Hinori! Do you have a place to stay?! Nico's not imposing any… demands on you is he?!"
She narrowed her eyes at Nico, then turned her back to Hinori, shielding her from him with a dramatic flourish. "You can hide behind me, Hinori, I'll protect you from the hungry Nico!" Hinori's confusion softened into amusement, and she tapped Holly's shoulder lightly. "Nico has been very kind to me, he saved me and everything. I'm grateful to him."
"Actually, Holly, I was hoping you could fast track some paperwork and get Hinori a place to stay here in the Roost," Nico said, stepping forward and placing a hand on Holly's shoulder. "We can talk about getting her a job at a later date. She has been through a lot after all."
Holly thumbed her chin for a moment, her blue eyes gleaming with mischief. "I think we can do that without it being considered… abuse of power. Just this once." She turned to Hinori and grabbed her hands, her earlier teasing forgotten in her genuine desire to help. "Come on, Hinori, let's go look for something you'll like! The Roost has apartments with balconies overlooking the city, and some with cozy little reading nooks…"
Nico smiled, watching the two of them head off toward the elevators, Holly chattering excitedly and Hinori listening with a mixture of awe and bewilderment. He turned to Trina, holding out a hand. "Shall we, Trina?" Trina rolled her eyes, a small smile playing on her lips from behind the mask, and accepted his hand, allowing him to pull her into a light skip toward the elevators. Nico laughed, the sound light and carefree. "I wonder what Harley is doing right now. She is missing out on this fun!"