Chapter Text
It was embarrassing.
That was all the Gray Raven Commandant could think about. He did not know what the World Government Association of Art was thinking or why President Hassen, Commander-in-Chief Nikola, and the Parliament even allowed this. At first, he did not believe the insider tip he got from Sica, but then the official announcement came -
- WGAA would hold an event on Valentine’s Day, with the Task Force serving as the centerpiece, specifically the squad commandants. Anyone could participate in the event - be it humans, Constructs, or even awakened machines - as long as they registered beforehand. Heck, even Akdilek Commercial Alliance, Arctic Route Union, Kowloong, and the Forsaken were invited.
The event’s guidelines were simple enough - the participants would get a chance to bring the commandant of their choosing to a ‘romantic adventure’. The twist was the theme itself: wedding, and by wedding, it was literal. The squad commandants must dress up as a bride or groom, whichever was the opposite of their birth sex. This meant the male commandants would cross-dress as brides while the female commandants would dress up as grooms. They could choose only one lucky ‘partner’ from the participants and reject the rest, so anyone who wanted to get picked must try their best to woo their chosen commandant. The event would run for an hour, and the final pairs would get ‘married’ and go on their ‘honeymoon’.
The Gray Raven Commandant thought it would be a fun event to join in - only if the Constructs and non-commandant officers were not staring his way shortly after the announcement dropped. It did not help that he stumbled upon the rest of the Gray Raven huddled in the lounge and plotting something. He swore he heard Lucia saying something about stabbing someone, Liv spiking drinks to induce a mild stomachache, and even Lee planning the best assassination methods. It got the Commandant nervous that he had to intervene to stop them from going further.
…Which was what the Gray Raven Commandant regretted doing. He felt fucking cold - the veil did nothing to protect his bare shoulders and back from the air. The off-the-shoulder long sleeves also were not enough to keep the rest of his arms warm. The A-line, high-slit wedding dress was surprisingly flattering on him despite his build. Maybe it was because he was on the leaner side rather than being bulky. Still, the dress was more restrictive around the waist than the military uniform he usually wore, and the heels a tad higher and more challenging to balance with than his boots.
If the Commandant was being honest, he could not care less about being in a wedding dress - he had been through more life-threatening situations than this. However, when he stepped on the stage after being called, alarm bells rang frantically in his brain. Fuck the Parliament and Kurono! Fuck the Punishing Virus and whatever it was plotting to eradicate humanity! Nothing was more terrifying than the gazes of hundreds of people, Constructs, awakened machines, and cameras directed at him. It was as if he were helpless prey surrounded by predators in a tiny den. It was at that moment that the Gray Raven Commandant knew his life was in danger.
“Alright, we already have all our beautiful brides and handsome grooms here!” Ayla cheerfully declared over the microphone. Selena stood beside her, having to help organize the event. “I can see that everyone is eager to marry their beloved commandants. Remember, you have one hour to woo them and win their sweet, sweet ‘yes’. Of course, it goes without saying you can’t use weapons. No maiming, no killing, got it? Otherwise, you’ll be disqualified and court-martialed.”
“Brides and grooms are free to reject you and cannot be forced to pick you. A ‘no’ is a ‘no’, okay? We have cameras everywhere, and this event is being aired live on public channels here in Babylonia and the Earth, so harassment is an absolute no-no! Now, without further ado -”
The pink-haired Construct raised a toy gun. “Let the wedding matchmaking begin!” There was a loud Bang!, and a miniature bouquet popped out from the barrel of the fake firearm. Everyone pumped their fists in the air and cheered. Before the humans could take the next breath, all hell broke loose.
“COMMANDANT!”
Never had the Gray Raven Commandant felt such horrifying fear at seeing so many Constructs charging toward him all at the same time - so much so that Ascendants, agents, Hetero-Creatures, and even the Punishing Virus itself paled in comparison to it. In fact, he had never felt so scared of the wedding-themed coatings, bouquets, ring boxes, and determined expressions everyone was wearing, especially the three Gray Raven members. So, the Commandant did the most rational thing to do at that moment -
- Run.
The Gray Raven Commandant lifted his skirt and leaped off the stage, nearly wobbling on his landing while on thin heels. He took off in the next split second - his veil and the train of his skirt trailing after his wake. Ayla’s cheers were drowned by the shouts and footsteps chasing after the runaway bride.
“It seems the Gray Raven Commandant got a head start! I’m pretty excited about who’ll be the lucky one our lovely bride will choose!”
SOMEONE FUCKING SAVE HIM! The Commandant thought desperately as he dodged and weaved through the crowd on the plaza. Without an exoskeleton, he was slower, and it would only take seconds before the Constructs caught up to him. His fellow humans would be left behind, but knowing how crazy those fan clubs could be, they would not easily surrender. He risked a glance behind him, which he regretted because Kamui was almost at his heel.
“COMMANDANT! MARRY ME!”
The Gray Raven Commandant nearly screamed profanities as he chucked the bouquet right at the Tank Construct’s face. The Strike Hawk member got a mouthful of flowers, and he slightly slowed down in surprise. However, before the Commandant could breathe easy, someone grabbed him by the waist and lifted him. The world spun before his very eyes as someone carried him bridal-style, and he struggled to look up to see who it was.
“CHROME?”
“Pardon me, Commandant,” The Strike Hawk captain apologized; all the while, his eyes remained trained ahead as he dashed away from his competitors. “This position might be uncomfortable, but please bear with me. I can’t let anyone else have you -”
“Captain Chrome of Strike Hawk, let go of Commandant!” Before the Gray Raven Commandant could even process things, Bianca had already caught up to them. “Commandant, don’t go with him! Please choose me!”
“No, don’t listen to that crap!” Camu shouted from the other side of them. “Commandant is mine!”
Before the Commandant could say anything - anything at all - something pounced at them. A mass of beige and white hurtled toward them, and the Gray Raven Commandant only had a split second to jump out of Chrome’s hold before he could get caught with the impact. He braced himself, rolled on the floor, and looked up at the aftermath of whatever meteor had decided to raze everything in its path. Constructs - Chrome, Camu, and a few more Constructs whom he did not notice earlier - were piled on one side with a very triumphant Nanami on top. Bianca had managed to move out of the way, avoiding the same fate.
“Nanami the knight, at your service!” The awakened mechanoid cheered, pumping her fist in the air. “I have saved the princess, and so, I’ll be the one to marry Commandant.” She winked. “Isn’t that right, Commandant?”
That made the Commandant chuckle as he stood up and brushed the dust off his dress. Before he could thank the mechanoid, Kamui’s voice shouted his name, and he turned to see him leading a mob of Constructs toward their direction. More Constructs were popping out from the intersecting pathways like mushrooms after a thunderstorm, sharing the same determined look to win this battle, and - Was that Rosetta? Sophia and Changyu? Why was Pulao here? And - OH, SHIT! Not Cerberus, too!
The Gray Raven Commandant swore under his breath and hopped from one foot to another as he hurriedly removed his heels. He ran barefoot as he held on to the skirt, so he would not trip and fall in his mad dash away from the wedding-crazed Constructs. Camera drones tailed after the Commandant, broadcasting the runaway bride for the entire Babylonia to see. Heck, he could bet that Vanessa was laughing at his plight at this moment. He had not seen any of his squad members since escaping the event venue. He did not know if that was a good thing, but right now, his priority was to lose his pursuers and the cameras.
The Gray Raven Commandant pushed through throngs of spectating people, using them as a temporary shield to hide and slow down his ‘suitors’. He ducked under a low-lying arch before Rosetta could catch up to him - his apologies trailed after him as he descended a set of stairs two at a time. Once or twice, someone would nearly grab hold of him, but another would sabotage their attempt. The Constructs were terrifyingly competitive when necessary, and this was not a fight anyone would want to lose.
The Commandant barely dodged Karenina and Teddy, who lunged at him at the same time. The two Constructs collided with each other, tripping the unlucky few who were right behind them. The pile of Constructs briefly blocked the view of the others, and the Gray Raven Commandant used that opportunity to slip away into a more secluded alley. He knew this pathway like the back of his hand, often using it as a means of escape from his so-called admirers wherever he was out alone. He glanced behind him a few times as he hurried along the maze-like route, praying no one had followed him. The voices had grown muffled with each step, and even the whirring of the drones had become fainter.
After the Commandant confirmed that he had lost his pursuers, he emerged at Sequence Square. There were very few people here as nearly everyone had gathered in the Ring Avenue, where the event was being held. Even those in the square were busy watching the holographic displays where the event was being aired, unaware of the now-missing Gray Raven Commandant sneaking past them. The Commandant swiftly headed toward the commandants’ dormitories and to his own lounge, where he collapsed on the floor as he finally got a breather. He leaned against the locked door as he tried to calm the ramming in his chest.
Now, what? There were tens, if not hundreds, of Constructs and humans outside still looking for him. It would not take long for them to try searching his usual spots, including his own room. Those who knew him would know where to look, and he would eventually run out of hiding places. Dammit! What was he thinking? The Gray Raven Commandant should have filed a request for nonparticipation. If he had, he would not be in this mess. Who knew everyone would suddenly go feral like this? Even the calmer ones had gotten swept away by the atmosphere.
The Commandant stood up, patted the wrinkles on his skirt flat, and walked toward the kitchenette to grab a glass of water before rethinking his strategy when he felt the hairs on his nape rise. Before he could react, a hand grabbed him and pulled him toward the bathroom. He was pressed against a metallic body as arms wrapped around him in a tight embrace. The lights went on in his presence, but someone switched them off just as quickly, and the Gray Raven Commandant only managed to glimpse a familiar snow-white hair and golden eyes before everything went dark.
Wanshi!
Before the Commandant could pull away and scold the Strike Hawk member for entering a commandant’s lounge without permission, the Tank Construct shushed him. In the darkness, the human could barely make out the hand gestures - Keep Quiet. Listen. He decided to keep his mouth shut and do as he was told. He heard the lounge door slide open and familiar footsteps entering.
“Not here.” That was Lucia! “Commandant’s not here. I thought he would be here….”
“Commandant knows his own lounge is no good.” Lee’s voice answered. “He might have hidden in less obvious places.” An annoyed sigh. “Seriously. Why did this turn into a hide-and-seek?”
“Let’s check in with Liv. She’s with Cerberus, right?”
“Yeah, the others should be searching the rest of the Commercial Square. We should join them and….”
The rest of the blond Construct’s words were cut off as the door shut behind them. Once the Gray Raven Commandant was sure they were gone, he let go of a breath he did not know he was holding until now. He tried to step away from Wanshi, but the man’s hold held firm.
“Wanshi.”
Golden eyes blinked at him before the arms surrounding him finally loosened. The Commandant’s hand searched the wall until he found the light switch. The ceiling light illuminated the cramped bathroom, filling the gap between him and the Strike Hawk member.
“So…” The Tank Construct’s voice was hesitant, almost unsure what to say in this situation. “Do you come here often, Commandant?”
The Gray Raven Commandant looked at him in disbelief. “Wanshi, this is my lounge.”
“Right.”
“And my bathroom.”
“...Right.”
“I’m the one who should be asking you that. What are you doing here?”
“Well,” Wanshi scratched the back of his head. “I don’t want to join the others because it’s noisy, so I decided to wait in a place you might go. Your door’s open, so….”
“I locked my door earlier, and even if it’s unlocked, no one could just enter without access -” The Commandant’s eyes widened in realization. He pinched the bridge of his nose. “Damn it. It’s Gray Raven, isn’t it? This was supposed to be a trap, right?”
The Strike Hawk member shrugged noncommittally. “I slipped in before the door closed. I’m honestly surprised they didn’t notice me.”
Considering how seemingly hyper-focused the rest of Gray Raven had been about the event since its announcement, the Gray Raven Commandant was a bit unsurprised they would make a mistake like this. Still, he would give them a talking-to once this madness ended.
“I’ll talk to them later,” The Commandant said as he turned away towards the door. “Let’s leave this place first and -”
Before the human could grab the handle, a hand slammed against the door right by the side of his face. “Commandant,” Wanshi’s voice was quiet, almost husky, against his ear. “Leaving so soon? Why not stay a bit longer? I’m sure the others won’t be returning here anytime soon.”
The Gray Raven Commandant could not suppress a shiver as the Construct’s body pressed so close against his bare back. He was effectively caged in, with only the bathroom door in front of him as his only means of escape, but even that felt like a trap. He swallowed as he felt warm synthetic lips hover so close to the shell of his reddened ear.
“Commandant -”
BEEP! BEEP!
An alert cut sharply through the thick tension in the air, and a holographic display popped out between the Commandant and Wanshi. Seizing the momentary distraction, the human pried the door open and stumbled back into his lounge. He did not look back as he scurried outside, leaving Chrome’s questions over a terminal call and a disgruntled Wanshi behind in his dormitory room. The Gray Raven Commandant glanced at his own terminal, taking note of the time left -
- Forty-five minutes.
The remaining minutes were further confirmed by Ayla’s voice over the speakers. The Commandant skidded to a stop at an intersection, barely keeping in a frustrated yell threatening to rip from his throat. He could hear heavy footsteps from the three hallways - he did not know who they were, but he recognized those footsteps, which belonged to Constructs. Before he could decide whether to pick one or retrace his steps, something pounced on him. Sharp nails clung to his bare shoulders, but not deep enough to injure. The Gray Raven Commandant would have elbowed his attacker hard if he had not recognized their voice.
“Found you, Gray Raven Commandant.”
“No. 21?” The human struggled to pry the Amplifier Construct off him. Despite the young girl’s petite form, she was still as heavy as any other Construct. He could barely keep his balance and avoid toppling over. “Wait - Let go!”
“Can’t do.” No. 21 said, shifting to cling around the Commandant’s midsection instead. “No. 21 caught Commandant. That means I win.”
That was not how it works! Before the Gray Raven Commandant could voice his protests, Noctis barged from one of the hallways and was running at full speed toward them. “Oi, oi, pipsqueak! Hand over the Gray Raven Commandant right now!”
No. 21 snarled against the Commandant’s ear before using the latter as a launchpad and lunging at her own squadmate. The pink-haired Attacker Construct yelled profanities as he barely dodged the girl’s attack. Even without her signature weapon, No. 21 was still a force to reckon with.
“Ya’, little shit-!”
“No. 21 caught Commandant, so he’s mine!”
“That’s not how it works - OW! OW!”
The Gray Raven Commandant decided that it was the best time to run before the two would notice. He started backing away, but instead of air, his back hit another metallic body. He glanced behind him and saw a familiar shade of red locks and a chilling smirk he knew so well.
“Going somewhere? Com-man-dant?”
Ah, fuck! Really? The Commandant could do nothing as he was hefted effortlessly over the shoulder by a wedding suit-wearing, ponytailed Cerberus captain. He clung to the back of Vera’s coating for dear life as the latter sped away to who-knew-where, leaving behind her quarreling teammates who had yet to notice that the prized ‘bride’ was whisked away. He heard muffled shouts amidst the rushing wind against his ears as his other ‘suitors’ caught wind of them.
“Tsk!” Vera swerved away to a different hallway, trying to shake off their pursuers. However, they were as persistent as she was. The commotion caught more attention, leaving the poor Gray Raven Commandant dizzy. He held in the urge to vomit as he was jostled carelessly by the Cerberus captain’s rushed movements.
“VERAAA!” The human lifted his head and could barely make out Noctis barreling towards them among the crowd. No. 21 was perched on his shoulders, steering her squadmate by the hair like a captain to her ship. “YA’, GODDAMN, FUCKIN’ CHEATER-!”
“Hah! Get lost!” Vera whirled sharply around and kicked a platform trolley. With how small the hallway was for such a large number of Constructs, those in front could not dodge without colliding with each other.
The Commandant winced at the sight, feeling sorry for them, but remembered he was in an even more dangerous situation. At the corner of his right eye, he saw Yata and Discord - Why were they here? Were they not with Valeria earlier? - speeding towards them from an adjacent hallway. Bianca, Hanying, and Veronica were coming in from another one, and he heard rather than saw Alisa and Jetavie - and was that Haicma? - just ahead of them. With such a narrow space, the hallway they were in was now a trap.
However, the word ‘impossible’ was never in Vera’s dictionary, and the red-haired Construct latched onto the wall and used it as a new path. The Gray Raven Commandant prayed for his life as gravity shifted back and forth within a span of three seconds. The Cerberus captain landed gracefully at the rear end of one of the mobs before continuing her mad dash. Somehow, they miraculously escaped their pursuers, and Vera led them to her squad lounge. With the door securely locked, the human was unceremoniously dumped on the sofa, trapped beneath the Amplifier Construct like prey to a predator. A hapless bird to a hungry hound.
“Now, then,” The Cerberus captain smirked. “No one’s going to bother us. What should I do with you, Little Commandant?”
“Uh…” The Commandant swallowed. “Let me go?”
The red-haired Construct threw her head back as she laughed. “You think I’m going to let you go so easily after all of that? Not gonna happen.” She reached down, and the sharp tip of her nail grazed against the human’s exposed collarbone. The latter sucked a sharp breath as the cold metal trailed higher to his Adam’s apple. “I’m not going to let such a pretty prey out of my grasp.”
Vera lifted his chin as she leaned down with a ferocious grin. The Gray Raven Commandant could see his wide-eyed self reflected in those eyes. He was sure the red on his cheeks was not from the Construct’s eye color. He was certain that the heat now prickling under his skin was not from the mechanical body above him.
“You’re mine now, Commandant.” The Cerebrus captain declared - so sure, just like whenever she would raise her banner spear in triumph back when she was still in her Garnet frame. “Now, be a good little ‘girl’ and accept my proposal.”
“That’s -”
Suddenly, the entire lounge went dark. The Amplifier Construct clicked her tongue in annoyance, and the Commandant felt the hand let go of his chin and the weight lifted off him. He sat up and squinted, trying to adjust to his dim surroundings. “Vera?”
“Stay where you are. I’ll be back.”
The Gray Raven Commandant frowned as he heard, rather than saw, the Cerberus captain move somewhere further in the lounge. Only half a minute passed with him being alone when the lounge door was forcibly opened. He closed his eyes at the sudden stream of bright light from the hallway. Before the Commandant knew it, someone managed to nab him away from under the red-haired Construct’s nose during that single moment of distraction. He was already lightheaded from being manhandled by one Construct to another to even try making sense of everything when his ‘savior’ shifted him to a more comfortable position - not another bridal carry! - as they sped away to God-knew-where.
“Hang in there, Commandant! Just a bit more! Hah!”
Bridget! The Gray Raven Commandant could only brace himself as they fled the commandants’ dormitories and back to Sequence Square. People squawked in surprise as they burst through the crowd that had gathered after the cameras reported the influx of Constructs into the dormitory. The Commandant clung to the Tank Construct’s neck for dear life as they leaped from one railing to another. Bridget seemed to have a plan - using the crowds as a way to slow the others down, just like the human had earlier. Within minutes, their pursuers had thinned, having once again frustratingly lost sight of the precious ‘bride’.
“Phew!”
The captain of the Support Force gently set the Gray Raven Commandant down on a crate after double-checking their surroundings. They were in a more isolated place, which, from the looks of it, was a storage area. The Support Force logo printed on the tarpaulins covering stacks of crates indicated a headquarters of sorts for the department.
“You okay, Commandant?” Bridget asked. “I wasn’t being too rough?”
“N-No. I’m good.” The Commandant let out a sigh of relief, grateful that his feet were back on the ground. Another second of being passed around and carried, and he really might lose it.
“You sure are famous, Commandant!” The Tank Construct laughed, patting the human’s back, who winced at the impact. “If this weren’t an official event, you might think that everyone has lost it.”
“Please tell me you’re not going to ask me for my hand for ‘marriage’, too.”
“I’d be honored if you pick me, of course,” Bridget walked over to one of the open crates and grabbed a bottle of water. “I joined because I think it’s fun, and seeing you in a wedding dress is really something.”
The captain of the Support Force passed the bottle to the human, who gratefully accepted it. “But considering how mad the others had gotten, I’d rather not force myself on you too much. You already looked stressed.”
The Gray Raven Commandant chuckled ruefully. “More than you know.” He chugged down the water, thankful for the coolness running down his parched throat. “I’m already regretting this.”
“Heh.” The Tank Construct plunked down beside the crate the human was sitting on. “Shall we get some drinks after this? My treat.”
“Liv will kill me.” The Commandant downed the rest of the water and tossed it into the nearest trash bin. “I’m on a ban until tomorrow.”
Bridget snorted. “You’re on an alcohol ban, but you’re running for your life from hundreds of Constructs right now? I call bullshit!”
“Alright, alright. I’ll take up on your offer. Just make sure to save me if my teammate tries to kill me.”
“That’s a deal, then.” The captain of the Support Force stretched, her mechanical joints making metallic popping sounds. “I brought you here to take a break, and maybe, wait here until the timer ends, but -” She glanced sharply in the direction they had come from earlier. “Looks like someone found us already.”
Seriously? That fast? The Gray Raven Commandant followed the Tank Construct’s gaze and saw a familiar figure walking towards them. “Noan? What are you doing here? Aren’t you with Simon?”
The Dark Aries member regarded the human with a soft smile. “Hello, Commandant.” He nodded. “Yes, I was, but we decided to let Palma stay with Commandant Simon. After all, he can only pick one as his ‘partner’.”
“And now you’re here to ask to be the Gray Raven Commandant’s ‘groom’.” Bridget stood up and strode toward the Transcendent. “Unfortunately, I’ve got three pieces of bad news for you. First, you’ve got a lot of competition -”
“- I know that.”
“Second, I’m also one of them.” The captain of the Support Force stopped in front of the Dark Aries member. “And third…” She smiled - the curve of her lips was more intimidating than friendly. “You’ll have to go through me and -”
“Commandant!”
Both the Commandant and Noan turned to the voice and saw the familiar figures of the four members of Strike Hawk heading their way. Liv was not far behind them, with Cerberus trailing after her like bloodhounds on a hunt. Vera’s expression looked especially menacing when their eyes met. She must be really pissed right now that someone had stolen him right under her nose. The mere thought of that sent shivers down the Gray Raven Commandant’s spine.
“- Them.” Bridget glanced at the human behind her, trying to catch his attention. The Commandant turned to her and saw her hand behind her back, pointing in one direction. Her mouth moved, forming silent words. Go. Hurry.
The Gray Raven Commandant mouthed his thanks and ducked out of sight behind some crates to fake the direction he was going. Sorry, Noan. He apologized in his mind as he sneaked toward one of the exits Bridget was directing him to. The door was thankfully open, so he managed to slip away quietly. He looked at his terminal - thirty minutes left - as he finally stepped outside of the Logistics Center. The immediate area was empty, save for a few cargos, but he could see his other ‘suitors’ heading their way towards where Bridget and Noan were. The Commandant crouched behind a tall crate as Lucia and Rosetta flew past, not far away from where he was hiding.
Once the ‘danger’ had passed, the Gray Raven Commandant continued his way, navigating through more familiar yet secluded areas. Once or twice, he would catch glimpses of Nanami with Haicma and Hanying or the rest of the Little League. He would hear Karenina and Teddy fighting over where to search next, which, in his opinion, ironically made a good distraction for them to notice him. He slowly made his way to…where exactly? The Commandant did not know. He kept glancing at his terminal, counting the minutes until this hell finally ended. Ayla’s voice was a background noise ringing in his ears. Even now, he did not know whom to choose to be his so-called spouse -
- No. Not now. The Gray Raven Commandant needed to find a place that people would think he would not visit. Or at least, one they would think last to search into. His dormitory room was already a no-go, and he doubted the Gray Raven lounge would be safe either. The public library? The F.O.S. College? The Youth Center? Those were closed during the event. Maybe that place that Noan brought him before? No, that person himself might think of looking there. The Science Council? Asimov would kill him. The Star of Life? Professor Hippocrates would dissect him.
So, where? Where could the Commandant hide?
As the Gray Raven Commandant agonized over his nearly exhausted options, he had not noticed the shadow creeping behind him -
“- You should be more vigilant than this, Commandant.”
The Commandant’s battle-honed instincts kicked in before his mind could catch up. He whirled around, one fist raised to defend himself. A hand blocked his attack before another pushed himself against the alley wall. A tall frame pressed against him, immobilizing his hand by the wrist and trapping him. A singular golden eye met his, and the latter’s nearly fried nerves gradually calmed at the familiarity of it.
“...Watanabe.”
The leader of the Forsaken loomed over him. Their faces were nearly close enough for their noses to touch. “If you promise not to punch me,” He said. “I’ll let you go.”
The Gray Raven Commandant reluctantly nodded, and the Tank Construct released the human’s wrist but did not step back. The latter tried not to comment on how close they were - such a short distance that the other man would usually not entertain. He tried not to feel too self-conscious of the eye sizing him up; his instincts were still in fight-or-flight mode - any form of attention now was making his veteran soldier side bristle like a defensive cat.
“...What is it?” The Commandant asked, a bit more gruffly than he intended. “Is there something on my face?”
Watanabe seemed to catch himself. He hastily turned his gaze away and stepped back. However, the red dusting his cheeks had not gone unnoticed by the human. “Sorry, I just -” He coughed. “I -”
The Gray Raven Commandant decided to have mercy on him. For now. “What are you doing here?” His eyes drifted to the surprisingly fancy wedding suit that the man was wearing - something he never expected the latter to wear. Wait. Where did he even get it? He doubted the Forsaken had the budget and resources to make such formal wear.
“Everyone pitched in to get me this,” Watanabe answered, seemingly reading his thoughts. “And that WGAA Construct - Ayla - helped out to get me a discount.”
Huh. The Commandant knew that Ayla was really excited about this event, but he did not realize that she was that enthusiastic that she would help a non-Babylonian to get a deal. Construct coatings could get expensive as designs became more elaborate. He decided he would meet up with the pink-haired Construct later and pay the cost of that deal as thanks.
“Well, it looks good on you. Unexpected, but fits you well. It’s just...”
The Gray Raven Commandant stepped closer and reached out. His fingers closed around the necktie as he started adjusting it. The leader of the Forsaken stiffened under his touch but made no indication of wanting to push him away. With a few deft movements, the latter finished his work and patted the other man’s chest.
“...There. It’s a bit crooked, but I fixed it already.”
“...Thank you.”
“You’re welcome -”
The Commandant looked up, and his smile faltered when he noticed that the gap between them had shortened once again. Too close. He knew the Tank Construct preferred to keep a reasonable distance whenever they were together - something about their positions as a Babylonian commandant and the leader of the Forsaken. The Gray Raven Commandant understood and respected that, but why…? Why was Watanabe looking at him like that -
“- Commandant!”
Before the human could react, someone grabbed his hand and pulled him away from the Tank Construct. His bare back pressed against fabric, and an arm wrapped protectively around his waist. At the corner of his eye, he caught a glimpse of a familiar blond hair - the color of delicate sunlight.
Lee!
“Commandant, are you alright?” Lee asked, almost demanded. Concern etched on his synthetic features. “You’re not hurt, are you?”
The Gray Raven Commandant managed a nod. His teammate frowned, seemingly unconvinced, as his eyes searched him for a hidden injury. “I’m fine. Really.” He reassured him and was about to move away when the Attacker Construct’s arm tightened around his waist. Not too tight to hurt, but enough so he could not escape.
“Lee…?”
However, the blond Construct’s attention was no longer on him. He was glaring in front of him, at the only other Construct with them right now. “What are you doing here?” He demanded. “You’re the leader of the Forsaken. Why are you participating in this event? Even Qu didn’t join.”
The Commandant wanted to speak up and point out that Rosetta, who was the leader of the Forest Guard, had joined. Heck, even Nanami was here. There was no rule preventing the leaders of the different factions from participating. It was an open event for a reason - the most important requirement was to register first.
“If I remember correctly,” Watanabe answered. “There is no rule that a leader of another faction isn’t allowed to join. As for the monarch of Kowloong, I believe that’s her own choice, not mine. I don’t have any obligation to follow another leader’s example, especially for an event open to all.”
The Gray Raven Commandant could feel Lee’s annoyance, even without connecting to his M.I.N.D. The artificial body against his back felt warmer than it had seconds ago. While he doubted a physical fight would break out, it did not mean a verbal one would not. There should still be around fifteen minutes left, and considering these two were fighting over him, why not take himself out of the picture?
The Commandant’s eyes flicked at their surroundings, searching for a distraction, when he spotted a few familiar faces not far away. Perfect. Taking a deep breath, he drew out the most ear-wrenching, overdramatic, high-pitched voice he could manage. “OH MY GOD! IS THAT THE GRAY RAVEN COMMANDANT?” He shrieked. “QUICK! CATCH HIM!”
That reached the human’s intended targets and also caught the two with him off guard. Lee’s arm loosened around him in surprise, and the Gray Raven Commandant hastily slipped away from the former’s grasp. He did not look back as he made a mad dash to lose them, even as his own teammate shouted for him to come back.
Sorry, Lee! The Commandant had lost count of how many apologies he would have to make once this mess ended. He had also realized a bit too late that he had to backtrack, as some of the Constructs had realized they were fooled and were tracing their earlier steps. Having no other choice, he returned to Commercial District B, narrowly avoiding other squads from seeing him. The Gray Raven Commandant arrived at the mobile elevator leading to the Military Security Area and could not help but scowl.
Hah…fuck it. The Commandant crouched beside the handrails as the lift ascended. While it would not hide him, at least, it would make him less noticeable. He briskly strode toward the central elevators, nodding at Lin, who gaped at him. He placed a finger over his red-stained lips.
“Pretend I’m not here.” The Gray Raven Commandant pleaded. “Please.”
The novice administrator blinked, then nodded slowly. She turned back to the console as if nothing had happened, much to the other human’s gratitude. The Commandant boarded another lift and followed the familiar path he had walked so many times until he was standing outside the Gray Raven lounge. The door opened for him, and he trudged toward the receiving area before plopping face-first on the sofa.
So tired. The Gray Raven Commandant was sure that his makeup had stained the square cushion, but he could not care less. It was the longest hour of his life. He was too exhausted from being chased by wedding-crazed Constructs, being caught in ‘dangerous’ situations, and, well, everything that was this accursed event was. He rolled on his back, glanced at his terminal - eight minutes - and closed his eyes. Just a nap. He would take a quick nap, and once he woke up, all of this would be over…
…Cold fingers brushed against the Commandant’s forehead, and his eyebrows scrunched at the touch. He slowly opened his eyes, wincing slightly at the artificial afternoon sunlight peeking from the windows.
“Commandant?”
It took a second for the human to get his bearings, and a few more to recognize the face looking at him from above. “Lucia…? How long -”
The Gray Raven captain seemed to expect already what he was going to ask. “- Not too long, I think. I just got here.”
The Gray Raven Commandant blinked and then finally noticed the wedding-themed coating his teammate was wearing. Not Pyroath’s original appearance. Not even a dress, a suit. Everything suddenly came crashing down - Valentine’s Day, WGAA, the ‘wedding’ event, the Constructs and humans scrambling to get their hands on him...
…Oh, no.
“So, Commandant -” Lucia’s voice was soft, and her smile was gentle, but the anticipation in those red eyes was unmistakable. The lounge door slid open, and the Commandant’s eyes widened in horror as familiar figures entered one by one, crowding the sofa and effectively blocking his only means of escape.
Oh, fucking no!
“- Have you made your decision?”
From the speakers, the Gray Raven Commandant could hear Ayla’s excited announcement loud and clear. “Time’s up, everyone! All brides and grooms, please return to the event area. I repeat. All brides and grooms, please return to the event area. It’s time to pick your spouse!”
PLEASE SAVE HIM!