Chapter Text
Bad things do happen; how I respond to them defines my character and the quality of my life. I can choose to sit in perpetual sadness, immobilized by the gravity of my loss, or I can choose to rise from the pain and treasure the most precious gift I have - life itself.
Walter Anderson
Getting off the plane was one of the hardest things I had ever had to do. It meant that my life in America, my life in Phoenix was going to end, possibly forever but I couldn't let that deter me. I had to be strong, I had to roll with the punches life threw at me, and if it knocked me down I had to force myself up and hit back ten times harder.
I had to do it for them.
"Natasha!" Hearing that excited shout as I stepped into the waiting area made me want to flinch. All my things-- minus the weapons and ammunition I had been gifted over the years were packed away into the military bag I had hooped over my shoulder. My cargo pants were tucked into my combat boots, the laces done all the way up and the buckles at the back strapped in tight with Velcro, and they hid the knife I had bought at the souvenir shop. It was easy enough to get one, the clerk took my word on the fact I used to be a military brat, and having a weapon made me feel better.
Telling the truth does have perks.
Seeing the family waiting for me, and seeing the two blonde haired children bouncing with robotic figures in their hands made my heart sink. There was a mother; she was a natural blonde with dads green eyes, stay at home mom for the twins probably, and she didn’t seem to go out too often considering the fact she looked a little over weight. Her husband was obviously a native to Tokyo, probably a mechanic too judging by the missed oil smudge on his neck. He had sparkling brown eyes, and a large excited smile that greeted me. Considering how old the twins look, which was about nine or ten now I’m starting to wonder if he knows just how terrible fathers side of the family is.
I focused on the twins. They held their fathers sparkling brown eyes, and messy, un-kept dirty blonde hair. One had slightly chubbier cheeks, and her eyes sparkled brighter then her brothers. Her brother on the other hand, was just a centimeter taller then his twin, and he had pale freckles peaking on the side of his neck. He held a yellow robot, obviously merch considering how well used it was. His sister a blue on, but he was shaped and designed to be more officer type then the yellow mech. Which was shaped better for Kung fu then just regular patrolling.
I could remember being that small, and using army men to help make plans for my family to use when they had to go on missions, of course they never actually used those plans.
Gods how I missed them…
“Aunt Lori, sorry for taking so long.” I said walking over. The bag was hiked up higher on my back, and I ignored the bouncing twins as she beamed at me.
“Shinpai nai.(1) We’re just glad you’re here.” She told me. I could see the daring look in her eyes, and instantly knew WHY father insisted on me never meeting them, and stating that I wasn’t to go to them if they died. Sucks that mother was older, and she wanted me to go to them to try and fix their stupid ways.
I raised my eyebrow at her switch to Japanese, and felt a pang of pain jerk at my heart strings.
Fine, if she wanted to be that way.
“Anata no sukina yō ni. Watashi wa nihongo to eigo to no ma de Nihon no subete no jikan matawa suitchi o hanashita baai wa, konomudeshou ka?(2)” I asked, smirking when her eyes widened startled. Obviously, she hadn’t been told that Japanese was something constantly spoken on base.
Oh gee, I wonder why she would be kept out of that loop.
“M-mixing would be fine.” She stuttered stunned. The twins squeaked excitedly at my feet, and I finally look down at them half annoyed. At the shove of the girl like green robot in my face, I blinked startled, and pulled back to look over the merch. She was obviously a biker type person, cocky too considering the smirk that played on her face plates. Her frame was pure green aside from her feet, which were white from the knee down. All at once, the sister shoved the bike itself at me, and I actually cringed away from it this time.
“These are for you Onesan(3)!” He chirped beaming. I gingerly took the girl and her bike, and looked both over. With a minute or two fiddling, I managed to transform the bike, put her into it then clip it into place. Now that she was no longer flat chested, she looked a lot more feminine. Minus curves.
“Okage de kodomo (4). She got a name?” I asked, lifting her up by her arm. Something was off now that I actually looked at her in the armor. She seemed almost—
“Gunmax isn’t a girl! Gunmax identifies as a guy!”
Masculine. Of course.
I looked to Lori’s husband, and raised my eye brow again at him, while holding ‘Gunmax’ up a little higher in question. His grin grew larger, and he gave a nod to confirm that Gunmax, in fact, masculine.
“Kami wa ima watashi o koroshimasu. (5) Right, he. Gunmax huh? Gods help me if I meet his royal sassyness.” I scoffed. Her husband actually choked on his laughter this time, and the twins laughed happily together.
“Alright you two that’s enough. Katsuo, Aiko, Natasha is probably tired. Lets get your father to work then we’ll take her home to rest.” Lori said, putting a hand on their shoulders. I raised my eye brow again, but tucked ‘Gunmax’ into my bag. I wasn’t even going to ask about where the three were from. It wasn’t any of my business to be honest, at least not until they made it my business.
“Hai (6) mama.” They chorused. She smiled, and happily headed for the door.
“Dono yō ni anata wa kanojo no yōna hitobito ni taisho suru nodesu ka? (7)” I asked him as he turned as well. He offered me a reassuring smile, and put his hand gently on my shoulder. I cringed, but let him keep it there either way.
“Rotto to nintai ga takusan. Watashi wa anata ni watashi wa tsuitachi no tame ni watashi o ofu ni dekiru yō ni watashi no jōshi o settoku dekiru to katei suru to, ashita no mawari ni tsuā o ataerudeshou, sā. (8) ” He told me, grinning again. I grinned back, and nodded back. He wasn’t totally like Lori was. Good, that made my life easier.
“Arigatōgozaimasu. Anata no namae wa nanidesu ka? (9)” I asked. He grinned, and offered me his hand as we stepped outside.
“Shota Yukimura. Engineer, and I hear you’re into being a mechanic.” I liked him already.