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Failure.
Failures are different from setbacks.
When there’s a setback, you can still recover from your mistake.
But not with failures.
Failures don’t give you the chance to recover from your mistakes.
This commission was a failure.
They couldn’t bring back the strongbox to the white star institute, it was there only way out of the hollow.
Nicole didn’t say much on the way home. even if she was glad she was alive. She just couldn't bear the fact she failed. she didn’t just fail her client, she failed her team, she failed her proxy, she failed Belle and she failed Wise.
Her Boyfriend.
She’d known Wise and Belle for a long time and Wise had been nothing but patient with her, they founded random play together. she helped them manage their money, and even though she loved to spend, Wise had helped Curb those spending habits to better manage her money. Much to Anby’s delight.
Managing random play was a victory. that wasn’t a failure.
When she opened the door to random play she expected being greeted with scorn and anger. a common occurrence for her. taking a breath. she opened the door.
she was greeted with a hug.
“I’m so glad you guys made it out okay!” Belle exclaimed as she pulled the cunning hares in a group hug.
“It’s thanks to you and Wise, Belle. If you hadn’t come up with the idea to use the strongbox, we might’ve turned into ethereals..” Billy complimented.
“Don’t mention it… but it did come at a cost…”
“What cost?” Anby asked.
“We… Lost Phaeton.”
“WE WHAT?!” Billy screamed
“Yeah… We had to give up our account… it was the only way.”
They lost Phaeton.
Wise and Belle’s life’s work.
All gone.
Because of her.
She drowned out Anby and Billy’s voices as the reality of the situation sank in. if she had been smarter, this wouldn't have happened. Phaeton was one of their main sources of income and without them they were gonna be in dire straits.
She was dreading Wise’s reaction even more now.
“Nicole? why do you look so down?” Belle asked.
Nicole looked up. snapping from her thoughts to see Belle… Concerned?
“We… We failed the Commision. What.. aren’t you mad?”
“Why would I be mad over that? You’re back alive! That’s what matters!”
“But..”
“No buts! You just go tell your boyfriend you’re home! I’ll go grab the food.”
Anby looks up in expectation. “Burgers?”
Belle nods “You know it!”
Anby and Billy followed Belle out of the store meaning she was gonna be alone with Wise.
No one to save her from the impending disaster she brought upon herself. this was how it ends, wasn’t it? WIse would be mad, they would break up, and maybe she’d be forced to go back to her old scam artist ways to survive.
She could feel the bile build up in her throat as she carefully opened the door.
She heard him type on his HDD. She lived with him long enough to know what was on his mind the speed he types. When he was typing as fast as he was at short intervals, it meant he was focused.
He didn’t hear her come in. Either that or he didn’t care.
Why would he…
“W-Wise?”
her voice gets his attention. He turns around to face her, his expression unreadable… he slowly makes his way to her.
She slowly backs up as he steps forward.
“Wise i know there’s nothing i could say… but i’m, i’m sorry I-”
She feels herself be hugged, a hand resting on the back of her head.
“Why are you apologizing? I’m just so glad you're safe.”
“But, I failed… and.. we lost the account and…”
“I don’t care if you fail, you’re back home. That's all that matters.” He holds her a bit tighter.
Slowly but surely, he guides the poor trembling Nicole to the sofa, letting her lay on top of him while he kisses her head.
The dam finally breaks, and Nicole lets out the tears she was holding in.
“I’m sorry I failed Wise. If it weren’t for me we’d still-”
“I told you, you have nothing to apologize for. We lost the account, but we’ll make it back to the top. We just have to climb the ranks again. this isn’t a failure, it’s just a setback. We didn’t fail Nicole, we have the HDD, We have the store. We have our home. none of that is going anywhere.” He whispered the last part while he gave her head another kiss.
Nicole squeezed him. “You still love me?”
“Of course I still love you. Just because we failed this job, doesn’t mean I think any less of you. It just means we’re gonna have to work harder to make up for this, that’s all. We still have our store, and I got the best finance manager in Eridu with me. Why would I be worried?”
A setback.
That’s what this was to Wise.
Not a failure.
Setbacks were just obstacles to overcome.
and this… was no different.
“I know you haven’t had an easy time on interknot, but i think i know you better then most people. Don’t worry, you aren’t a failure to me, you never have, and you never will. I love you, Nicole, through the failures and setbacks.”
Nicole finally worked up the courage to finally kiss him on the lips.
“Wise you dummy, how do you know what to say every time?”
Wise shrugged. “I don’t know, all those movies i guess?”
The both of them chuckled.
“Hey, Once belle gets back, you up for a movie night? To celebrate my best and favorite agents coming back alive? Your pick.”
“Sure, because i am not rewatching starlight knights again or i swear to god Wise i’m throwing Billy in that hollow-”
Wise returned the kiss,. “There’s the Nicole i know and love.”
A setback.
It’s not failure, it’s a delayed victory.
Nicole knew that now.