Saint Joseph School

"Another Holiday? THE Holiday for couples!? Why doesn't anyone tell me these things! " Emphasis found its way to the smaller words as he stood their frustrated. It was not like she would give him any kind of hint on this thing, he wasn't sure she would even care. It was the day before and he was sitting there wracking his brain about what he could do.

Kali suggested shoving her full of peanut butter, but he never saw her touch the stuff. Ty suggested playing some kind of hockey with tongues, but he was going about to go skating again. He still hurt when he would think back to trying to find balance on the ice. The idea of licking ice like that seemed dangerous, not wanting to end up frozen to the surface. So much for help from friends.

Who was Saint Valentine? Maybe that would help. Even experts and stuff weren't even sure, but it seemed to point to this guy who was a Martyr. He had no idea how this was supposed to help him. Maybe a more modern reference would help? Candy, flowers severed from their root, animals stuffed with something. People said he was the crazy one.

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His alarm clock ripped into the sunless room, letting out one wail before he slammed it off, sleepy eyes peered from covers to see if anyone else woke up with him. He figured Jade might have, if he did, he shrugged it off probably knowing it was just Nova up to something. He moved quick this morning, getting ready to go in record time. Wings still just a bit damp, he quickly dreaded the cold morning air as he tossed on his favorite shirt, creeping out the door.

It was a quick and chilly flight to the tram, and a slow early morning ride down to Founders, thankfully it wasn't full and he sat across three seats, wings far from cramped. He exited, giving a warm smile to the man at the front of it. The stranger seemed up a bit and parted with a wave. "Have a good one Mister" Nova shouted before running out of the station, three strides and he reached the railing, never stopping as he hopped up, one foot pushing off it as he took flight.

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He was glad to be inside again, inside the small bakery, the place that made the best in the city. The night before, it had gone rather well, asking the favor. It was amazing sometimes what you could pull off looking to be an almost angelic figure, glow and everything. Well that, and promising to help open up for a week while the place was short on staff. It wouldn't be so bad, the smell of the bakery, the warm dough cooking in the ovens woke him up in no time at all. He quickly got to work, helping out as promise, after all dough was his livelihood but noodles were just a bit different.

As he and the owner worked getting ready for the day, Nova commented how he felt walking in here in the morning, how it woke him up so fast. "Thats nothing" the owner replied. "These have the power to raise the dead"

"Raise the dead!" Nova piped, already covered in flour, eyes wide in amazement.

The man went on to tell a tale of a hero who was gravely injured during one of the Rikti raids, the owner had managed to run out and drag him back into his shop, while the troops were running around outside. The hero, dressed in bright red and gold, was knocked out, and the man had gone to the back to call for help. When he came out moments later, the hero sat there pastry in hand, the standard two dollars on the counter. "These things saved my life" the shop owner quoted, as Nova's mouth dropped. He finished the story with the man in tights blurring out the door, and rushing back to the fight.

It quickly came to mind, what Stasis had told him, the story by the statue. He smiled inwardly as he continue to work away, beginning to work on his project, the reason behind all of this. Several failed attempts later, he managed something that looked what he was going for. Next came the poppy seeds, that turned out a bit better. The man laughed over his shoulder "Your some kind of different Kid, you give any thought to just giving her chocolate and flowers" Nova laughed "I don't know I think that is what everyone else is doing, I just know she loves these, with extra butter, but do tell anyone." The man laughed a bit louder patting him on the back, flour filling the air.

As it came out of the oven, Nova stood there beaming, the owner shaking his head with a smile "Hey not too bad" they both agreed. Nova thanked him packing up, telling him he would see him bright... well dark and early the next morning.

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He was quick to get back, to keep the heat, he checked the time, he knew just when she would head out most mornings to class. No sooner did he land outside the girls dorm, than a figure slinked out the door, eyes on the ground. She managed to walk right past him, just out of the corner of her eyes, but she got barely a step before something strange happened. Her shoulders arched back, and her head rose to see the world around her, that familiar smell just starting to fill the air. She turned her head to see a beaming Nova, in both smile and glow, though his face with still just a bit of flour on it from this morning.

Before she managed a word he thrust out a still steaming bagel in what might have been the shape of a heart, covered with poppy seeds, words erupting from his lips "Happy Valentines Day Stasis!"

She laughs.

"Ayuh... ayuh, dayball! What's this?"

Of course she already knows. The beautiful, wonderful smell of warm bread is like a blanket made of nostalgia, happiness and friendship. So many things spoken of, dealt with, chattered about while poppy seeds scattered the ground, with him, with others. His face is alight with the memory of ritual too, something she's taught him because it's one of her favorite things. Her hands reach out automatically to accept the lumpy, misshapen gift.

"Happy... happy Valentines to you too, Nova!" She's forgotten, she can't keep track of this stuff. She wonders then about the white smudge on his cheek, marring the perfection of skin. She watches it fascinated as he smiles and somewhere she knows what he's done. The bread is, after all, still warm.

She doesn't have anything to give back. It's first thing in the morning and she doesn't have anything to give back. If she says anything he'll say it doesn't matter but maybe it does. He looks so happy. She thinks frantically, looking down at the baked dough. Her fingers trace the edge and she knows then how to answer.

"Close yuh.. close your eyes, dayball."

"What? Stasis...."

"No, really. Close your eyes. And no peeking!" She smiles up, ignoring the sudden feeling of butterflies. His face screws up comically tight and she laughs again. "Ayuh, I'm not going to bite. Easy on. Now remember; keep your eyes closed."

She watches to make sure that he really isn't looking. She doesn't know why that's important but it is. She steps closer finally and puts one hesitant hand to his face, cupping the curve of his jaw. He swallows and she finds that fascinating too, the adam's apple moving. He's taller than she is, but not by so very much. She doesn't have to do more than lean in, really.

This kiss is deliberate and slow. His lips are smooth and warm, much like the bagel she's going to eat for breakfast, with skin almost delicate under her shy fingers. She's kissed boys before. Well, just one boy really. But it's the same, the terrible feeling of excitement and exploration. She tries to remember how you do this, when thinking stops and it just happens. Her hand creeps to the back of his neck. She doesn't want to be bad at this.

She tries kissing him some more, nibbling softly. The bagel is forgotten in her grip even as his hands settle carefully on her hips, pulling her closer.

"Hey you guys, get a room!"

She jerks away, flushing at the sudden jeer, her own eyes opening. His wings have wrapped around her. She laughs, embarrassed because she can't step back. His blue eyes are bird bright looking into hers before he raises his head.

"Don't be jealous! If you want a kiss, you just have to ask!"

"No-va!" she hisses. Thankfully his wings flex then and she moves, his hands falling away. She holds the bagel like a talisman but she can't stop smiling. "Don't say stuff like that. Somebody's gonna pound you for it."

"They'll have to catch me first. Besides, I'd rather kiss you anyways."

She laughs, now self conscious and knowing her face is about a hundred shades of red. She hooks a flip of hair over her ear and glances uncertainly away.

"I'll see you later?" he asks, pressing. He's getting good at this, not letting her run away without making her promise something, anything that means she has to follow through.

"Yeah... ayuh, yeah Nova. I'll see you for lunch, alright?" She tells herself to grow up. She's sixteen for god's sake, not twelve. People kiss people all the time. Just because she's not used to it doesn't mean she can't do it. He nods in reply and she hesitates before blurting out.

"Happy Valentine's Day, dayball. Thanks for remembering."

He smiles. "Anytime... Tara."