-2: 94
5 PM exactly.
The moment the clock turned, the doors to my office building slammed open and a familiar voice called out.
"COMMANDEEEEEEER!"
I turned around and smiled. "Anis. Welcome ho- Mmph?!"
Before I could react, I was pulled into a tight hug and then a deep kiss.
"Mon dieu!" Mustang walked in, amusement clear on his face. "It would appear that my popstar missed her dear commandant more than I thought."
I wanted to respond, but I was currently being kissed like Anis wanted to suck all the air out of my lungs... so I shrugged and then just kissed her back.
Tracing my hand along her back, slipping one around her waist to hold her snug, kissing her deep and tasting the familiar hint of lemon on her tongue from her habit of drinking lemon soda...
Anis moaned. Then she froze and immediately stopped the kiss, stepping back with her face completely red. "C-C-COMMANDER! Not in public!" After that, she looked over at Mustang, mortification clear on her face.
I laughed and said, "You're the one who rushed in to kiss me, Anis. A bit too late for modesty."
"Grr... You're lucky I love you!"
I smiled and pulled her in for a warm hug. "And I love you too, Anis. Glad you're safe."
Anis melted against me, letting me hold her. Then she paused and said, "Wait. How are you this strong?" She leaned on me again, deliberately letting her full weight on my body.
I chuckled and held her up, teasing her a bit. "Finally self-conscious about your weight now that you're an idol again?"
Anis blushed and said, "N-Not that! I mean, yes, but... Ugh! Stop teasing me and be serious!"
I opened my mouth to answer.
But before I could, someone else answered instead.
Andersen walked in, changed back into his Deputy Chief attire... meaning he had ditched his hat, gloves, and glasses for just his plain brown uniform. Glancing at Anis, he looked amused and said, "That's a lost cause, Anis. He's my kid... and worse than I was at his age."
Mustang chuckled and said, "I would agree, Deputy Chief. The commandant is... how shall we say? Quite bold, no?"
Anis tensed.
Did she sense the mischief I wanted to pull off?
"W-Wait, Commander, no- mmph~?"
I cut off Anis's words with a deep leaning kiss, making her hold onto me for dear life unless she wanted to hit the ground.
After that, I smiled and stared into her golden eyes. "Love you."
"...Ugh." Anis let out a warm smile. "...Love you too. Even if you're such a tease."
I helped her back up and dusted her clothes off.
After that, more people started arriving.
Snow White arrived first. Stepping inside the building, she took one look at me with Anis and said, "...Yes. Definitely Commander's son. No test needed there."
Red Hood followed after Snow White and laughed. "I told you, Snow. Lil Boss is JUST like Boss. But like, definitely worse since he flirts with all the girls he meets."
"Hey." I pointed at Red Hood and said, "Not every girl. I have a type."
"A type, he says..." A beautiful woman with violet eyes and pink hair walked inside. She idly fixed her white dress and looked over, amused. "...Well. I suppose having standards is a good thing."
Another beautiful woman, but with blonde hair and blue eyes entered. Wearing a nun outfit... she looked nothing like a devout sister of the cloth and instead like a woman starved for affection as she looked at me. "Standards... Do you think I meet them, Dorothy?"
Dorothy rolled her eyes and said, "Could you stop acting so uncouth and lustful in public, Rapunzel...? Besides, that one is essentially our nephew."
"That's the best part!"
A woman with gray hair and brown eyes walked in, adjusting her large white hat. She chuckled and said, "As expected, Rapunzel's desires have no limits..." She glanced over to Red Hood, amused, and said, "You realize this is due to you, yes?"
"What?" Red Hood laughed and said, "Rapunzel was always like this. I just made sure she stopped holding herself back."
Andersen clapped his hands and said, "Alright, alright. Enough banter, guys. Since we're the adults, let's set up the tables while the kids filter in."
After that, Andersen corraled the Goddess Squad into helping set up the tables.
Meanwhile, Anis moved to my side and said, "Huh. I didn't think the Goddess Squad was like... that."
Mustang moved over too and smiled. "Well, my popstar, you'd be surprised. There are many things in history that do not line up with what the public believes."
I glanced over at Mustang and took in his 'definitely a crime boss' attire. "...Uh huh. Like the fact that you probably committed identity theft to rule over the underworld and Tetra Line, Mustang?"
Mustang winked and wagged his finger. "Now, now, Commandant. A man never reveals his trade secrets."
"Master!" The doors slammed open and Neon ran in. "I got here as fast as I could! What's this about the Goddess Squad- OH MY GOSH EVERYONE IS HERE!"
Rapi walked in after Neon with an apologetic face. "Sorry, Commander."
I laughed and said, "No need to apologize. I allow shenanigans of all sorts."
At that time, Endless walked in, idly tucking a strand of her silky black hair behind her ear. "Indeed. Commander is a very gracious man."
Eternity walked in after her sister, fixing her white bangs over her golden eyes. "Even if he is not, Commander is family. Right, Sister?"
Endless smiled and said, "That's correct, Sister."
The doors opened again and Suri walked in. Taking off her visor, she looked around and said, "Well, this is definitely a party-" When her blue eyes met Mustang's she froze.
Mustang let out a soft smile and said, "It's fine, mon amie. All Tetra Line Nikkes are my girls. No matter what tragic backstory they had beforehand, yes?" He winked.
Suri paused and sighed. "...Yeah. I guess. Anyway." She reached back and pulled in a girl with light brown hair and emerald eyes. "Come on, Hana. You've skipped everything else, you can't skip this."
Hana walked in, blushing. "I-Is it fine for me to be here?! Everyone else is so famous, and I haven't even done anything... I mean, you've gone on missions, Nami has helped Anis, and I've just been sitting around doing paperwork..."
"And that's why you deserve to be here, Stupid."
After that, the doors opened again and Shifty walked in. "Paperwork... don't remind me. I have to do all the paperwork to move my office to the Outpost so that I don't get murdered and turned into a Nikke... or have my brain scanned." She glared at me as she entered and said, "You're definitely taking responsibility for this, Commander!"
After Shifty, Marian walked in too, giggling. "Well... Our commander is definitely going to take responsibility for *something*~"
I paused, catching Marian's mischievous tone.
Then I caught how she was holding her hand over her stomach. And the slight curve in her belly.
And then I realized just how many people were here...
Namely my entire squad minus Nami, the Goddess Squad, Andersen, Mustang, Shifty...
Really, the only ones missing still were-
"We're back, Pops!" Nihilister stomped into the room, carrying an unconscious young girl with short-cropped gray hair and... a blue uniform or something?
Liberalio floated into the room, her usual dreamy smile on her face. "Yes, Father. We've returned with guests!"
Rose followed after her, saluting me. "Don't worry, Commander. I've made sure they're safe." She smiled, adjusting her silver hair and then fixing the black cloak over her body to hide her wounds before moving to a corner to stand guard.
After Rose, a pair of vaguely familiar Nikkes entered.
One was a Nikke with black hair and violet eyes, dressed in what I could only describe as a barely modest dress made of leather strips.
The other was a Nikke with a plain white blouse and a belt-skirt... yes, a belt skirt. Her pink hair was kept in twin-tails with red ribbons, while her eyes... were also violet.
Mihara looked amused and said, "Long time no see, Commander."
Yuni waved and said, "Commander! Are you still superhuman? Or are you even MORE superhuman now? Because if you are, we could have SO much fun with Mihara together!"
And then, rounding out the guests...
"U-Um..."
...A woman with black twin-tails with green streaks reminiscent of seaweed walked inside. Her golden eyes swept across the surroundings and she said, "H-Hello? I'm Siren..." She fiddled with her skin-tight black outfit and blushed, clearly self-conscious. "It's nice to meet everyone...?"
I sighed. "Oh, this is going to be chaos-"
"KYAHAHA!" Drake slid into the room, striking a pose. "The Villains have arrived!"
Vanitas floated into the room... somehow, his cape billowing behind him. "Mwahaha... Yes. The True Humans are here at last."
Laplace slid in and pointed at the ceiling. "You mean the Heroes!"
As if on cue, Ark Ranger Black, Ark Ranger Blue, and Ark Ranger Red followed after Laplace.
"Fear not!" Ark Ranger Black struck a pose and said, "No matter the place, no matter the dangers, as long as the Ark Rangers are here... Justice will never fail!"
Ark Ranger Red struck a pose to match Ark Ranger Black. "Yeah! For justice... and beyond!"
Ark Ranger Blue sighed and said, "You two need to get better catchphrases... And hello again, Commander." She nodded to me in greeting, a smile on her face.
'...Okay, maybe THIS is chaos-'
The doors opened again and Maxwell entered. But she wasn't alone.
Behind her, there was a beautiful woman in sleek black armor, silver hair trailing behind her along with violet eyes.
Maxwell glanced back and said, "How are the readings on the Omega body, Sophia?"
The woman- No. Sophia tilted her head and said, "Readings are fine, Maxwell, thank you." After that, she held up a tablet, where Syuen was on a live video call. "How is the reception, Syuen?"
"It's fine! But why is there a giant party going on right now anyway?!"
I opened my mouth to answer.
But then Marian's eyes glittered with mischief and she said, "It's because I'm pregnant!"
Dead silence.
I froze.
And then Andersen gave a slow clap. "Wow. My kid really keeps doing the impossible, huh? Getting a Nikke pregnant..."
I sighed.
But before I could respond, a five year old girl with sun-kissed skin and a grumpy expression on her face walked in. With electric blue hair and violet eyes, she had the look of a girl who was dragged along to the adult's party. But she sighed and made her way to my side before hugging me. "...Daddy. Stop leaving me alone in the lab. It's lonely."
More silence.
I held Indivilia... Or rather, 'Indi' close and said, "I can explain."