All's Fair

Natural Habitat

A/n:  Long time, no see!  Nora quick on the uptake and knows that danger is coming.  Why?  When a Cyborg man tells her group that 'the time is near' and takes back their near-unreadable book, that gives ya hint!  Serpent is the only person more advanced than Nora in fighting, so she asks for his help.  His price?  A date.

Nora's POV

     Serpent weaved through the familiar streets of the city. Iforgot to be more specific about where he could take me. I had asked him if he could teach me a fewfighting moves, but I neglected to say where would be an appropriatesetting. And Serpent being Serpent, tookevery loophole! I need him to help methough. We found Finnwich earliertoday. By 'we' I mean: Lee, Tina, Jennyand myself. He helped us out of a stickyspot with Lynch and told us 'the time is near'. Something big is about to happen with the Pyramid under A. Nigma High,and I've let two too many near-death situations get by me. Serpent's beaten me before, so I need him ifI want to improve my martial arts for future use.

     Maybe he'll just take me to the casino again. He had an office that was recluse, and there is sparring equipment there. But the area we were driving in was nowhere near the casino. My trust in Serpent was better, but I still checked to make sure my long staff (Long Silver) was securely tucked away in case I needed it, as was my phone. I immediately felt a little guilty for checking. What has Serpent done? Yeah, he's done some things that he shouldn't, but nothing like Cassandra or Lynch. Can I really put my guard down around no one?

     I wanted a regular life. Or as close to one as I could get! Serpent's the only person I know (besides Dad who I've kept ignorant) who isn't involved in the Prank Conspiracy.

     Besides that... I've kind of gotten used to riding around with him.

     A voice that was neither Sensei Hong's nor recognizably mine said: Face it, Nora. You've got a crush.

     And I couldn't help agreeing with it.

     "Here." Serpent said when he stopped. He had brought us to the woods just in the city limits. There was no trail, no benches, just trees, grass and bushes. I liked this better than the casino. I just didn't tell him that.

     "Sweet!" I did say. I set my helmet on the side of the seat as I got off.

      He looked at with a coy expression. "A forest is the best place for a fox." Despite myself, I smiled. He's never going to let that go.

      "And for some serpents."

     "Ah, touché to you this time!"

     I followed Serpent in for a while. No holding hands or walking side by side, it was more like we were on a nature hike. It was beautiful here. The sun was directly above and there was a slight wind blowing. And the woodsy smell brought on a sensation of feeling new, clean and revived. I needed that after being underground surrounded my machines. I guess it's not bad that Serpent chooses where we go. Both choices had shown their advantages.

     "Ya know," I said as we walked, "It really is a surprise that you would pick here for a second date. After the casino I had you pinned as a city-boy."

     Serpent laughed and replied, "You said that you like surprises. But, yes. I like coming here at times to breathe a little clean air."

     "Ah." I was no longer in a position where I felt like I needed to question Serpent. But it somehow felt nice to know he was voluntarily offering up information about himself. I was starting to like him, quite quickly. But what does he honestly think of me?