[FIC] First of a Million Steps (SMT: SJ AU)
More weird SJ-verse fic thing! Whooooooooooo.
Parts: [ ø. Null] . [ I. Alpha] . [II. Beta]
first of a million steps
II. Beta
Hijikata didn’t exactly go straight to the deck after the dismissal-while he was usually someone who was prompt in following orders, his curiosity made him stay back just a bit more longer. As most of the other members of the team left the command room after the conclusion of their briefing, the man caught sight of Gore and Zelenin talking amongst themselves while almost everyone else was busy with their own things. Despite knowing better than to attempt to step in on a conversation between his superiors, Hijikata still walked towards them; he was saved however as Gore at that point of time seemed to end his conversation with Zelenin with what looked like a decisive nod and turned around to make his way out of the place as well with the others.
The Japanese tried his best to look unsuspicious as he walked towards the Russian, who seemed to have noticed him coming towards her regardless. She smiled, and walked up to him with a confident stride. The probe he had seen from before was in her hands once more as she started to speak. “A pleasure to meet you, Hijikata. I am First Lieutenant Zelenin, a Russian science officer.”
Trying his best to not state at the strange probe in her hands, Hijikata looked back at her and nodded. “Likewise.”
A small twitch was seen on her lips at that response before Zelenin continued. “In my office’s view, there is no doubt the Schwarzwelt poses a serious threat to mankind. But what if man is not resourceful? Through cooperation, there are no problems we cannot overcome.”
Vaguely, Hijikata thought back to the last few months he had been in Ikebukuro and his thoughts only soured notably. Outside problems, maybe, he thought, but certainly not the inside ones. Indeed, Mitsuba’s death was still a big scar in his heart… possibly one that could never heal as well.
“I am eager to do my part here for the future of mankind,” she finished there and then, cutting Hijikata out from his thoughts. The man blinked a little, partly out of surprise, and only continued to blink as she looked at him with an expectant look that was similar to Gore’s. Realizing what was it that she probably wanted, the man extended his head towards her.
Zelenin quickly took the cue. “Oh, my apologies! How rude of me. I very much look forward to working with you, Hijikata.” That said, she took his hand and shook it well-as she did that, the small smile came onto her lips once more as she remarked casually. “You have the grip of a soldier… I feel quite safe with you around.”
Hijikata had to do his best not to let loose his smirk there and then. Him, safe? Hah. He caused his fiancée to die, for heaven’s sake, how could he be ‘safe’? If anything, he was the most dangerous man in here now… not that anyone knew that, of course. The man had a way of keeping his emotions tightly in check when necessary-sooner or later, he was going to die along this mission… well, at least he wouldn’t be so guilty then. Probably.
His thoughts were cut short as Zelenin withdrew from the handshake and smiled once more. “It’s nice to meet a military man with such manners. You and I will make a good team, Hijikata.”
The man nodded back in response. “I look forward to working with you.”
Zelenin smiled yet again at that. “With soldiers like you around, how could we fail in our mission?”
Just then, a voice came from the side lines, and Hijikata found himself stumbling in surprise as a strong hand clasped him on the shoulder. “Hijikata Toshirou, right? Nice to meet you!”
The man blinked in surprise as he found himself face to face with one of the people who he had been sitting nearby with earlier during the briefing session. He turned around to look at Zelenin, but she had already directed her attention to someone else. Well, at least that was one problem over and done with.
“You’re Japanese, right?” the person continued, prompting Hijikata to turn back and face the person. A sheepish look was on his face as he went on. “This team really is international.”
“We were called from over the world, so I don’t see why we aren’t,” Hijikata responded with a stiff sort of tone in his voice, discreetly shrugging off the hand that was still on his shoulder.
The man nodded at that, arms crossing over his chest. “We have all kinds here, but every one of them is the best of the best from the world’s soldiers. There won’t be any trouble here, that’s for sure, eh?”
“I guess,” came the response, even though the Japanese himself personally believed otherwise. Then again, he was quite the cynic when it came to things like this-always had, and he always would be.
Another nod from the man, followed by a sigh as he continued, “Honestly, though… I was just assigned here myself. I’m still kinda learning the ropes.” He uncrossed his arms after that, grinning a little as he reached out and patted Hijikata on the shoulder once more. “Well, I’m sure if we stick together, we’ll get through this just fine, eh?”
Hijikata shrugged back in response, once more discreetly getting that damned hand off his shoulder. “Hopefully,” he replied.
The strike team member (Hijikata finally just realized it now from properly seeing the uniform he was wearing-it was hard to make them out since they were all so similar) grinned once more as he withdrew his hand. “Well, since we’re both here, might as well head down to the deck together? I think Commander Gore’s going to start his briefing soon.”
“I suppose,” came the reply from Hijikata, giving the command room another glance. There was pretty much only the stationed crew here now, so he supposed there was no use in remaining here. Plus he did respect Gore, and sure as hell didn’t want to incur his wrath because he was late for his briefing. Without another word, he started to make his way towards the deck with the strike team member whose name he didn’t know at all in tow. He wasn’t so sure what was it this briefing was going to be about, but he guessed it had to be something important if there was going to be a separate briefing required.
Parts: [ ø. Null] . [ I. Alpha] . [II. Beta]
first of a million steps
II. Beta
Hijikata didn’t exactly go straight to the deck after the dismissal-while he was usually someone who was prompt in following orders, his curiosity made him stay back just a bit more longer. As most of the other members of the team left the command room after the conclusion of their briefing, the man caught sight of Gore and Zelenin talking amongst themselves while almost everyone else was busy with their own things. Despite knowing better than to attempt to step in on a conversation between his superiors, Hijikata still walked towards them; he was saved however as Gore at that point of time seemed to end his conversation with Zelenin with what looked like a decisive nod and turned around to make his way out of the place as well with the others.
The Japanese tried his best to look unsuspicious as he walked towards the Russian, who seemed to have noticed him coming towards her regardless. She smiled, and walked up to him with a confident stride. The probe he had seen from before was in her hands once more as she started to speak. “A pleasure to meet you, Hijikata. I am First Lieutenant Zelenin, a Russian science officer.”
Trying his best to not state at the strange probe in her hands, Hijikata looked back at her and nodded. “Likewise.”
A small twitch was seen on her lips at that response before Zelenin continued. “In my office’s view, there is no doubt the Schwarzwelt poses a serious threat to mankind. But what if man is not resourceful? Through cooperation, there are no problems we cannot overcome.”
Vaguely, Hijikata thought back to the last few months he had been in Ikebukuro and his thoughts only soured notably. Outside problems, maybe, he thought, but certainly not the inside ones. Indeed, Mitsuba’s death was still a big scar in his heart… possibly one that could never heal as well.
“I am eager to do my part here for the future of mankind,” she finished there and then, cutting Hijikata out from his thoughts. The man blinked a little, partly out of surprise, and only continued to blink as she looked at him with an expectant look that was similar to Gore’s. Realizing what was it that she probably wanted, the man extended his head towards her.
Zelenin quickly took the cue. “Oh, my apologies! How rude of me. I very much look forward to working with you, Hijikata.” That said, she took his hand and shook it well-as she did that, the small smile came onto her lips once more as she remarked casually. “You have the grip of a soldier… I feel quite safe with you around.”
Hijikata had to do his best not to let loose his smirk there and then. Him, safe? Hah. He caused his fiancée to die, for heaven’s sake, how could he be ‘safe’? If anything, he was the most dangerous man in here now… not that anyone knew that, of course. The man had a way of keeping his emotions tightly in check when necessary-sooner or later, he was going to die along this mission… well, at least he wouldn’t be so guilty then. Probably.
His thoughts were cut short as Zelenin withdrew from the handshake and smiled once more. “It’s nice to meet a military man with such manners. You and I will make a good team, Hijikata.”
The man nodded back in response. “I look forward to working with you.”
Zelenin smiled yet again at that. “With soldiers like you around, how could we fail in our mission?”
Just then, a voice came from the side lines, and Hijikata found himself stumbling in surprise as a strong hand clasped him on the shoulder. “Hijikata Toshirou, right? Nice to meet you!”
The man blinked in surprise as he found himself face to face with one of the people who he had been sitting nearby with earlier during the briefing session. He turned around to look at Zelenin, but she had already directed her attention to someone else. Well, at least that was one problem over and done with.
“You’re Japanese, right?” the person continued, prompting Hijikata to turn back and face the person. A sheepish look was on his face as he went on. “This team really is international.”
“We were called from over the world, so I don’t see why we aren’t,” Hijikata responded with a stiff sort of tone in his voice, discreetly shrugging off the hand that was still on his shoulder.
The man nodded at that, arms crossing over his chest. “We have all kinds here, but every one of them is the best of the best from the world’s soldiers. There won’t be any trouble here, that’s for sure, eh?”
“I guess,” came the response, even though the Japanese himself personally believed otherwise. Then again, he was quite the cynic when it came to things like this-always had, and he always would be.
Another nod from the man, followed by a sigh as he continued, “Honestly, though… I was just assigned here myself. I’m still kinda learning the ropes.” He uncrossed his arms after that, grinning a little as he reached out and patted Hijikata on the shoulder once more. “Well, I’m sure if we stick together, we’ll get through this just fine, eh?”
Hijikata shrugged back in response, once more discreetly getting that damned hand off his shoulder. “Hopefully,” he replied.
The strike team member (Hijikata finally just realized it now from properly seeing the uniform he was wearing-it was hard to make them out since they were all so similar) grinned once more as he withdrew his hand. “Well, since we’re both here, might as well head down to the deck together? I think Commander Gore’s going to start his briefing soon.”
“I suppose,” came the reply from Hijikata, giving the command room another glance. There was pretty much only the stationed crew here now, so he supposed there was no use in remaining here. Plus he did respect Gore, and sure as hell didn’t want to incur his wrath because he was late for his briefing. Without another word, he started to make his way towards the deck with the strike team member whose name he didn’t know at all in tow. He wasn’t so sure what was it this briefing was going to be about, but he guessed it had to be something important if there was going to be a separate briefing required.