WARNING!: The following is a fanfiction based on the Nikke: Goddess Of Victory universe; as such I do not own these characters & this is not an official story. These parts are SFW.

Caught In Another World: A Nikke Parallel Universe Story

Halo Twelve: The Rendezvous... SHE

I.

It was ten minutes before midnight when I looked up at the Dome Of Eternity's simulated rendering of a full moon and wondered if Rapunzel would actually show up to meet with Andersen that evening. As I loitered around waiting in the shadows by the Goddess Of Victory statue, I remembered the difficulties I had in procuring the feminine items he had wanted me to purchase for her. Even though he had sent me more than enough credits to cover the costs, it was not easy keeping the presents a secret from my squadmates, and I received more than a few raised eyebrows from the shopkeepers as I ordered them. "Be sure to include this in the package with the gifts," Andersen told me with a knowing eye as he handed me an envelope with Rapunzel's name calligraphed upon it. The envelope was left unsealed, and so I read it as soon as I found myself alone. Are they going to have sex in public again?!, I remembered wondering afterwards. There's only one way to find out, I thought to myself in the present time as I glanced around eagerly at my surroundings. Myself aside, there was not a soul to be seen in any direction.

It was one minute before midnight when a pair of softly-fallen footsteps signaled that I was no longer alone in the vicinity. I looked to see a lone Nikke with long golden hair striding along gracefully in the artificial moonlight, completely oblivious to my presence as she gazed upon the statue with a deep reverence in her eyes. It was indeed Rapunzel, who appeared to radiate pure elegance while wearing the custom gown and shoes I had bought her in Andersen's stead. Before I could properly soak in the fullness of her beauty, I heard a second, heavier pair of footsteps making their approach, and I knew right away the person who they belonged to.

"You came," a plain-clothed Andersen warmly declared as he approached her with his hands in his blazer pockets.

"Andersen... yes, I'm here," Rapunzel replied, her face beaming with a nervous felicity.

"You look absolutely ravishing this evening. I trust you found the supplies in the Tower to your liking?"

"Oh yes, most definitely! I really cannot thank you enough for your generosity."

"I'm glad to hear that. And... I am glad to see you again."

Andersen then removed a hand from his pocket and offered her his arm. "Come with me, Rapunzel. I have a room in the hotel here, and I would appreciate your company this evening."

Rapunzel happily slipped her hand around his forearm and I watched as the two of them walked down the street, softly chatting between themselves. As they meandered through the hotel lobby and entered the elevator, I heard Andersen mention his room was on the tenth floor. I sprinted up several flights of stairs just in time to see them entering one of the suites. After catching my breath I hesitantly reached for the doorknob and was mildly surprised to find the door had not been locked, or even latched.

"I'm not encouraging voyeurism, but as a reward for your silence I could turn a blind eye to your hidden presence if Rapunzel never finds out you've ever seen us."

Andersen's words came rushing back into my mind as a moment of heart-pounding deliberation passed, but it was an unexpectedly familiar voice that stopped me dead in my tracks before I could enter.

II.

"Commander?..."

I looked into the eyes of a confused Snow White and froze. "What are you doing here?" she asked me in a hushed tone.

"I'm... making sure Rapunzel stays safe."

"Well, that makes two of us. So you know about their relationship?"

"Yeah, I kinda walked in on them by accident.."

"Oh... well, she mentioned you report to this guy. If so, do you think he may be harboring any sort of agenda or ill intentions?"

"I doubt he has any ill intentions, although I can't be certain about an agenda. He is interested in learning from Pilgrims, but... I've never seen him like this with anyone before."

"Could he be... in love with her?"

"It's possible."

"Well, that would at least explain why he's so interested in her when he's already surrounded by dozens of Nikkes. How exactly did she meet him?"

"I don't know. I was surprised to find out they knew each other at all."

"Something doesn't add up here. This isn't like Rapunzel; except for you, she never connects with strangers from the Ark. If you're looking after her, that's probably all that's necessary, but I want to see the two of them together before I head back up to the surface."

"Uh... what?"

"Is something wrong?"

"You do realize you may see something you don't want to see, right?"

Snow White lightly blushed, which stunned me. "I... I actually do want to see it. That romantic stuff isn't a possibility for me, but it's apparently become a reality for her. I can only experience it vicariously through her. I've known Rapunzel for a long time... I want to make sure this guy actually makes her as happy as she seems."

"...Fair enough. Alright then, let's go."

"Wait... the door's not locked?"

"Fortunate for us... right?"

"I suppose so. Saves me from having to pick the damn thing. But we've gotta be quiet now, we're going in." Snow White put a finger to her lips and stealthily entered the room with me in tow.

Halo Thirteen: The Rendezvous... VELVETEEN

"Would you prefer red wine, or white?"

While Andersen strode over towards the room's wet bar, Rapunzel was far too busy admiring details of the beautiful suite to even hear his question. "Oh, what a magnificent place! Everything is just so perfect, I... I almost cannot believe this is not a dream!"

"Believe it. This will be your home for the evening. I'll be having red wine myself... would you care for a glass?"

"Oh, no thank you! I tend to leave the drinking of alcohol to... others." Scarlet, ahem.

"I'm sure one glass couldn't hurt. This is a special occasion, after all."

"I do suppose you're right. Very well then, I'll have whatever you're having."

As Rapunzel strolled past a resplendent bed of satin, she caught a glimpse of herself in the large mirror upon its headboard. The dress she wore now was far more revealing than anything she had ever worn in the past, yet she wore it exceedingly well and could not remember ever feeling more powerful in her own skin before that point. As a sonorous melody imbued the room with wonder, she gave her dress a happy little twirl and watched as the fabric flowed around her before being settled by gravity over top her glass-like stilettos.

"What song is this?" Rapunzel asked in fascination as Andersen handed her a glass of blood red wine. "It's so beautiful... it sounds like something from another world."

"It's called Ave Maria. It's a hymn from many centuries before the Raptures' arrival... another world indeed, to us."

As they sipped at their wine and Rapunzel marveled at its flavor, things he wanted to do with her flashed before his mind's eye and an overwhelming desire to touch her came over him. Andersen reached out and allowed his fingertips to gently stroke her spine along her bare back, almost as if he half expected his hand to go through her like a ghost. "You're really here, aren't you?" he murmured beneath his breath as he inhaled Rapunzel's perfume through her flaxen hair, "I must admit, I wasn't certain you would show up."

"At first, I wasn't certain I would come. My world hasn't been the same ever since... that night."

"How do you mean?"

"Well, I have no real trouble carrying out my duties like before, but... something in me has changed."

A flash of curiosity crossed Andersen's face as he observed Rapunzel staring absentmindedly into her wine glass while she maundered over towards the window wall and spoke without making eye contact: "I feel it... everywhere I go, no matter what I do, I feel a longing sensation. It's as if I've finally satisfied a hunger, only to become even more ravenous than before."

"The heart yearns for whatever it truly wants, regardless of what we think of it." Andersen quietly stepped up beside her and watched as she ran her finger wistfully around the rim of her glass. Is she having doubts, or is it regret? I need to know more. "What is it you find yourself longing for?", he asked inquisitively.

"It isn't something I can have, so... it's not worth discussing, really."

"Rapunzel. Tell me." I need to know more of you.

"Ahh, well... I long for companionship... for you, actually. I cannot stop thinking about you, and it's a kind of soft insanity inside my mind."

Without meaning to, she tilted her head back and drank deeply from her glass, her swan-like neck pulsating elegantly even as she gulped down all of her wine. As she then stood transfixed by the skyline view, Andersen's perceptive gaze upon her never wavered. She continued: "Even when I'm praying for my fallen sisters, I can feel you in the air I breathe... in the wind that passes through me as I traverse the surface. I see you in my dreams, in my own reflection. It... feels rather embarrassing to say all this out loud, now that I think of it." She smiled weakly and waved her hand dismissively through the air. "My, my, this wine works quite quickly! F-forget I said anything!"

"There's no need for you to feel any embarrassment. It pleases me to hear you say such things." I needed to know these emotions are mutual between us, and now I know they are.

"Oh?" Rapunzel puzzled curiously, unaware that she was blushing. "W-well... what about you then? How are you feeling about all this?"

Andersen suddenly threw back the rest of his wine too and solemnly set the glass aside without making eye contact. Rapunzel watched him as he removed his jacket while maundering towards the bed, sitting down upon the edge of it with what seemed to be a heavy heart. She subconsciously set her glass next to his and stood in front of him, unsure if she should speak any further. He took her hand and pulled her closer to him.

"Rapunzel," he began, "I am going to entrust you with a secret of mine that should never be repeated. I too dream of romance, and have for a very long time. I threw myself into my work to forget a long-lost love..." Andersen trailed off, suddenly staring beyond her into nothingness.

Rapunzel's sapphire eyes sparkled with compassion as she gently sat in his lap with her thighs straddling his hips. "You're speaking of Liliweiss, aren't you?"

His eyes then returned to her gaze. "Yes. My position provides an endless escape from being haunted by those sentimental dreams she seeded within me. But I found out the hard way, there really is no escaping such a powerful force as the desire for love."

"The hard way... wouldn't happen to have anything to do with these, would it?" Rapunzel's index finger traced along one of Andersen's many scars, until it disappeared beneath his shirt beyond her reach. She had forgotten just how many he had until she spotted it a moment ago.

"Prison," he replied nonchalantly.

"Prison?!... but— but why—?"

"Shhhhh..." Andersen shushed as he placed his fingers over her mouth. "No more questions for now. Just kiss me, Rapunzel..."