[center][img] https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/290977655627448341/292171024986800128/coollogo_com-163531103.png[/img][/center] [center]OMAKE: "Our Non-canon Valentines day!"[/center] The sounds of shuffling papers and sniffling noses were the only noises in the LHU staff room. In-between expeditions and classes, David still had to attend meetings, and attend to other administrative work. Like sorting out items on loan to their museum, or items they were currently studying. At least, that’s what he should be doing, on the side he was looking through various women’s catalogues. “It’s really tough, you know.” “Hm?” A slightly pudgy man next to him put his own papers down to look at David. “It’s valentines soon, right? I want to get a gift for her.” David explained, the look on his face was gleeful, likely full of honeyed thoughts and sweet words. That face made Carmine a little sick. “I’m not married, don’t ask me, ask Carol.” Carmine pointed across the table, to a bespectacled woman, also deep in work. “I’m also not married, ask Carmine.” She said, not even looking up at the two. “See, anyways, I can’t do flowers. I’ve done that too much, right?” David kept flipping through his magazine. “Another necklace?” “On our salary? How about underwear?” “That’s more a gift for me…right?” David narrowed his eyes and glanced at Carol. “…. How about it?” “I don’t want underwear.” She answered flatly. “That’s not what a meant.” David muttered. “Well I’m not even dating either, I’m done with this.” Carmine gave a huff and returned to his papers. “Besides, you should be showing your love every day. Don’t use valentines as an excuse to be lovey dovey suddenly.” “I am, though?” David shrugged. “It’s the spirit of it, you know?” “Tch.” Carmine rubbed the side of his head. “Fine, how about something unique, giving her something only you have?” “Something, only I have?” David thumbed his chin in thought. [center]-----[/center] Valentine’s day, it’s true that it wasn’t as special as a birthday, or their anniversary, but he still attached some meaning to it. David wanted to try his best, so reaching out to his coworkers and friends was his natural reaction. That said, he talked to his friends at work, now came for his [i]other[/i] work. Having transformed into Terra Firma, he reached for his Global Guardians card. David made a show of clearing his throat, to help let his awkwardness out, and then pinged Iron Knight. “Say, Iron Knight, are you busy? I was wondering if you were spoken for?” "Terra Firma? I told you you're supposed to use these comms for emergencies only!" “Right.” David shut off the link, he briefly considered pinging someone else, when he heard several police sirens speeding down the street. [center]-----[/center] After what felt like hours, David found himself standing amidst piles of rubble and ruined buildings, standing side by side with Icon after a particularly troublesome fight. One that had him crash into an unfortunate jewelry store near the end. Civilian casualties were kept minimal somehow, David would attribute it to the teamwork of the world’s strongest heroes, but maybe the common man would praise the god of luck. Icon was just giving a statement to some nearby police and looked like he was about to leave. So, David approached him. “Icon, if you have a moment?” He nodded, looking at Terra as if expecting bad news. “Are you married?” Icon’s brows visibly raised, even through his mask, it was clear he was surprised. But he wore a grin in the next moment and answered. "No, I'm not married. Not yet, anyhow." "Well, are you going to get her anything? I'm, uh, shopping around, right now." "I try to do little things every day. I don't think that we should use a single, designated day to show that we care. But yes, I have something for her." "Oh, what did you get?" "I made her a diamond." ‘A diamond, huh’ David’s thoughts trailed on. [center]-----[/center] Bright lights could be seen flashing underneath the door to David’s room. The sound of wind swooshing could be heard as the curtains flapped violently. “Honey, you’ve been locked up in your study for a while now, are you alright?” Cecily hesitantly knocked. “I’m coming in.” “No! Uh, wait? I’m indecent!” Cecily blushed and smiled slyly. “Oh, come on, we’ve been closer than that, and this doctor makes house calls.” As she opened the door, she was shocked to see all his books and notes scattered around, the window closed, and a fully clothed David. “What were you doing in here?” She asked, her eyes glancing to the desk behind him. There was a hammer, several screw drivers, a power drill, and a white tarp covering everything. “Uh, home redecorating?” This was a very familiar feeling, when they were younger David’s parents had approved of her early on as a friend and had given her a house key. This was not the first time she had stumbled onto him trying to awkwardly hide something; one of those times, she had discovered him trying to stealthily make a surprise party for her. Stealth is not his specialty. This time she had no clue, she would just have to be patient. “Okaayy~ Well, dinner is ready…” David gave a thumbs up. “Just give me a moment, sweetie.” Cecily smiled politely, and quietly left. “Phew..” David made an exaggerated motion of wiping sweat off his forehead. [center]-----[/center] February 14th, Valentine’s day. Cecilia took the day off and closed her clinic, just in case David had something nice planned. He usually did, or rather, he’d better. Is what she thought, but as she watched the television, her mind slowly changed. The newscaster was reporting from a helicopter at a scene where Terra Firma was last seen, several explosions, blast craters, along with bullet holes marked the nearby buildings and streets. She knew he was probably fine, that story about him being an avatar of the Earth was kind of wacky, but he really did have the power to back that up. Yet, she still longed to be out there with him. Not to cheer him from the sidelines, but to join him in his fights, to watch his back as he watched everyone else’s. Back when she didn’t know his secret, she was frequently worried and confused about why he would suddenly come back in poor shape; exhausted, tired, sometimes even injured. It was equally concerning, that one day, she may be the one to write his death certificate. Of course, the fights that punished Terra like that involved everyone in the city, so injuries could be played off. But it hurt, not being there for her husband, to personally protect him. If their roles were switched, she knew David would feel the same, hurt that he would be powerless to protect his loved ones. The sound of the door opening behind her caused her heart to jump, she turned around instantly. “David!” She shouted and ran at him, crashing into him, and wrapping her arms around him tightly. “I made it back.” He said, with a soft smile. “Sorry I was late, I got you something while I was out.” “Oh?” “This.” Cecily pulled away to see what he was holding out. A necklace, a silver swirly heart, with a small gem at the center. The gem shined brightly, subtly glowing with a rainbow-like incandescence, looking closely, it was like it looking at the ocean with barely noticeable rippling waves. “Touch it.” It was warm, in a reassuring way, like she was holding a piece of home. “A necklace? Where’d you get this gem?” “It’s a gift from me.” He moved to put it around her, she obliged, remaining still so he could. “Sometimes I’ll see you and Maddie watching the news, scanning channels for a mention of a certain hero. I know how headstrong you can be, so I thought, I’d be nice, if you could be a hero too.” [center]-----[/center] Police sirens echoed throughout the street, increasing in frequency and volume as more police arrived. “We have you surrounded, and we have reinforcements on the way! Put your hands behind your head right now!” A figure at the center of the street, the cause of all this commotion, a large brown colored man, whose hair had grown out of control around his arms, chest, and head. The Berserker Bison, a well-deserved name inspired by his power and horns, fully capable of impaling the very cars the police took cover behind. “Ahahah!” Bison shouted, his arms rose, and he taunted the police. “Make me!” “Can we even take him? I’ve seen the vids; our peashooters will barely even brush his hair.” One of the policemen whispered to another. “We have to…” [color=ed1c24] “Don’t worry.”[/color] A powerful voice said from behind them, as they turned to look, that same figure put a reassuring hand on the officer’s shoulder. Terra Firma gently brushed the police aside as he stepped into the impromptu arena.[color=ed1c24] “From here on, it’s my fight.”[/color] [color=f7941d]“Squaring fists with Terra Firma, eh? If I take you out, my rep will skyrocket, not to mention my wallet!”[/color] Bison squat down, and started kicking his feet back, gathering up power, and then launched ahead. Cement cratered and cracked with every step, debris flung back at the police behind him, damaging cars and cracking windows. [color=f7941d]“RRRRRRNNNN!”[/color] Suddenly, another pair of hands caught him by the horns, though he could only see their feet, he knew something was wrong. Another set of legs had appeared, they looked like Terra, but more slender? [color=f7941d]“Arrooo?”[/color] Bison let out in his confusion, before he was thrown to the side, skidding face first into the ground. [color=ed145b]“Wrong, darling. From here on, it’s [i]our[/i] fight!”[/color]