*Third person, no one's P.O.V., jeans office, three weeks later*

Thomas- and you're sure you're feeling better now?

Jean- I'm fine but thanks for the concern

Thomas- okay just making sure. I'm gonna go check on the outer wall and see how preparations are coming along

Jean- okay bye

They exchange as the male leaves jean's office leaving her alone in thought. Sitting at her desk the grandmaster folds her arms in front of her and listens to the soft ticking of the clock at her side lost in thought.

Jean- 'just who are you so called "mysterious figure"? and why go through such lengths to kill someone like Thomas? heck Why kill Thomas at all? He's a great guy who doesn't deserve such an untimely death he deserves to die happy and peacefully and with someone nice at his side.....someone like m-WHAT AM I THINKING!?!' Pull yourself together jean now isn't the time to get lost in thought there's many more things to prepare in wait for his next attack. Just wait the next time you arrive we'll be ready.'

*SCENE CHANGE OUTER WALL*

Swan- Okay lower, lower and STOP!

He calls as the several knights and citizens of Monstadt secure a large ballista atop the outer wall   to match all the others lined around the city. Along with all of those the city has also installed several catapults and thanks to some engineering from Thomas several automated crossbows and mini turrets along the walls in wait for the figures return. But that's not all, through out the city several knights and citizens are all training hard honing their skills and perfecting their craft. Walking through the city Thomas glances at all the progress being made.

Thomas- 'looking good very good in fact.'

He thinks before hearing his voice called out and turns to find Sara from good hunter standing a few feet away from him. Running over she grabs him by the arm and drags him away ignoring his cries of protest. Finally stopping at good hunter Sara then asks for him to wait there before heading behind the counter and returns momentarily with a large roast in her hands.

Sara- Ta-Da, It's for you!

Thomas- Me?

Sara- of course. Think of it as a thank you for all the hard work you've done for us and helping us prepare the city for the next attack.

Thomas- Thanks but I'm not hungry

Sara- that's okay. I'll keep it warm for when you get hungry later.

Thomas- thanks I'll make sure to stop by for it later.

He tells her before turning to walk off but feels her grab him by the shoulder pulling him back. Turning around he finds her with her head down in shame.

Thomas- you good?

Sara- I-I also wanted to apologize for what I said to you that day when you were here for Lisa's book. I was way over the line with that and I'm sorry.

Thomas- It's cool trust me it's not the first time people have hated me or spoken ill of me behind my back and it won't be the last.

Sara- so...we cool?

Thomas- yeah we're cool

Sara- awesome I'll see you later!

Thomas- Bye!

They wave before the male heads off further into the city but hardly makes it two feet before being shoved harshly onto the ground. Groaning in pain and glancing up at his attacker he finds the friendly green haired alchemist lying on top of him once more.

Thomas- you know, We really gotta stop meeting like this

Sucrose- Huh? OH! I'm so sorry here let me help you up!

She shouts lightly scrambling to her feet and helping the male up as she begins dusting him off apologizing profusely the whole time. Chuckling at her reaction the male double checks himself for any lingering dust particles before saying.

Thomas- Seriously Sucrose you gotta calm down I'm not angry at you

Sucrose- I know but I'm sorry I-I didn't see you there

Thomas- Again it's cool no harm no foul you know?

Sucrose- Right!

She replies as the two then just stand there awkwardly staring at each other in complete silence. Rubbing the back of his head the male asks.

Thomas- so you made any new discoveries recently?

Sucrose- *gasp* I'm so glad you asked! Just yesterday I found a recipe for-

And she was off telling the male about all the new discoveries she's made recently- sweet flowers this and formulas that and how she thinks they can help better monstadt. Listening to every word she says the male can't help but think of how cute she is when she geeks out over alchemy it sort of reminds him of himself.

Thomas- 'hmm, this seems like a good time for a flash back'

*FLASHBACK 3 years ago, UNISEC HEADQUARTERS*

Thomas- Okay Copper writing, LEDS, scrap metal and various other trinkets and bobbles I think this is everything

Orion- That's everything sir and please do remember your safety goggles this time. We wouldn't want a repeat of last week's catastrophe

Thomas- Yeah yeah I know

He says whilst placing some goggles over his eyes and then he gets to work hammering sheets of metal, wiring the copper wiring, charging certain electrical pieces working for about ten minutes straight until his work in finally complete. Stepping back from the table the male gazes at a small silver device resembling a can opener sitting atop his desk.

Thomas- and we're done

Orion- If I may what exactly is it?

Thomas- Honestly I'm not sure myself I just grabbed whatever pieces of wiring and scrap metal I could find and then let my hands do all the work. But let's find out shall we?

He says grabbing the device and turning it over in his hands finding a small red button on the side. Pressing it nothing happens for a solid thirty second and the male is ready to scrap it thinking it only to be a fluke before the device starts to shake violently and flys into the air spinning around at a rapid pace whilst playing music and shooting beams of colorful lights everywhere turning his lab into a sweet ass nightclub. Then after another thirty seconds the device explodes sending colorful sparkles into the air that rain atop the male.

Thomas- Huh, a nightclub on the go

Orion- quite a peculiar invention but I could see it's uses

Thomas- Yeah.....Like hanging out in my pocket!!!, THAT WAS SO FREAKING AWESOME!!!. Did you see those colorful spinning lights and that cool disco music and then the really awesome colorful explosion at the end!!!. Unfortunately it only lasts about thirty seconds but I'm sure I can work out the kinks. 

Orion- pulling another all nighter are we?

Thomas- that's right! Cancel all my appointments and business meetings today I have some dancing shoes to break out. LETS PARTY!!! WOO-HOO!

*FLASH BACK END*

Sucrose- And then I-Thomas...Thomas....Hello...you in there?

She asks as she stares at Thomas who's currently staring off into space lost in thought. Snapping in his face a few times the male suddenly comes to his senses.

Thomas- you say something?

Sucrose- No I was just wondering what's going on in your head right now

Thomas- oh nothing I was just thinking about how cute you are when you talk about alchemy 

Sucrose- GAH!, C-cute!?!

Thomas- very cute. So how are preparations coming along the inner walls and HQ?

Sucrose- V-very well actually. The knight have all been hard at work training and exercising plus those turrets you set up around the city have been so good at their jobs we haven't seen a single slime within three miles of the city. No birds either but I'm sure it's nothing to worry about, on that note poultry has also become more common as of late so we can keep everyone well fed.

Thomas- 'probably should've wired those things to only shoot at hostile mobs, timmies going to be pissed' that's nice anyways I'll see you around eh?

He says turning of walk off but falls face first into the ground the second he lifts his foot to walk away and looks down to see he tripped over a small box on the floor with a small red bow atop it. Picking it off the floor he stares at it curiously wondering where it came from.

Thomas- Eh, what's this?

Sucrose- oh that's mine!

Thomas- oh well here you go

He says handing it to her only for her to push it back at him.

Sucrose- No No, what I meant is that the gift is a present form me to you. You know for all the hard work you've done to protect the city and....well.....other reasons

She whispers the last part looking away a blush accompanying her face hoping the male didn't hear her as he's busy shaking the box curiously listening to the sounds it makes. Unfortunately he did.

Thomas- oh yeah like what?

Sucrose- o-oh l-like um...you know just b-being around and stuff.....yeah stuff

Thomas- I like stuff 

Sucrose- So do I!

Thomas- you know what else I like?, stuff from other people. Makes me feels appreciated for a change you know?

He tells her as he opens the box to find a sleek silver hand inside. The hand covered in intricate details and whatnot. Gaping at the hand the male looks up to find sucrose bashfully looking everywhere but back at him as she lightly kicks her heel across the ground.

Thomas- woah did you make this?

Sucrose- y-yeah I n-noticed you've been missing your hand since the attack and I wanted to do something about it. So I found some blueprints and with the help of Wagner we were able to make a new hand for you. Free of charge of course. I'm sorry if it's not as advanced as what you're used to engineering isn't really my thing I'm more so an alchemist.

Thomas- No No this is amazing and it's even more since it comes from someone special to me

Sucrose- S-Special?

She says with a blush her heart beginning to leap with joy as the male leans closer to her until their noses are only a few centimeters apart.

Thomas- yeah.....REALLY special

Sucrose- *gulp* O-oh really?

Thomas- That's right...........Wagner's a cool guy a little rude at times but his heart is in the right place

Sucrose- Oh.....

She moans dejectedly as the male goes somewhere else then what she was thinking before she hears him chuckle and pat her head.

Thomas- Nah I'm just messing with ya. You're special to me sucrose really you are and this new limb really means a lot since it came from you.

He says attaching the hand to his stump as the girl cheers silently. 

Sucrose- so, how does it feel?

Thomas-............Groovy.

Sucrose- Is that good?

Thomas- super good, especially since it came from someone so special to me

Sucrose- S-Special...to you....you really mean it?

Thomas- of course. We scientists gotta stick together right?

Sucrose- right! Together til the end!

Thomas- good girl now I gotta head off and help finalize some more preparations but I'll see ya around ey?

Sucrose- y-yeah totally. Bye!

She waves cheerfully watching the male go. Leaning against a nearby pillar the alchemist starts to blush deeply and thinks to herself.

Sucrose- 'I'm so glad you liked the new hand, I just want to make you as happy as you've made me lately'

Walking down the streets of mondstat the male is greeted happily by multiple denizens all waving at him or even offering a gift for his work or for saving them all from the attack. Continuing to walk through the streets the male thinks happily.

Thomas- 'so glad to see all the people here have really warmed up to me now, this place is starting to feel more and more like home with all these happy faces and whatnot, But it's not, gotta find Sarah and look for those archons whilst also figuring out what's the deal with mr hot head'

He thinks before scaling a nearby wall and hoisting  himself over to find several knights all struggling to get a failed turret to work again. 

Thomas- turret down?

Knight 1- Yeah, it's the same one that went down last week and the week before that too

Thomas- odd these things should last. Let me have a look at it.

He replies lightly pushing this way through the knights and crouching down to the turrets level to get a good look at it. Tapping his head a few times the male scans the turret with his eye and is able to see all its inner workings and components. Getting a good look at it he finds the problem in no time at all before standing back up and summoning a simple screwdriver to open the machine. Crouching back down he quickly rewires a few things and screws the top back on before the turret suddenly springs back to life.

Knight 2- you did it! You fixed the turret!

Thomas- of course I fixed it I'm a hyper level intellect after all, I could do this in my sleep if I wanted to. Now give me a holler if any more problems arise will ya?

Knight 1- of course thank you once again

Thomas- whatever

He simply replies jumping down from the wall and landing gracefully on his face. Pulling his head out the ground and waving away any worried citizens the male gets back up and dusts himself off once more.

Thomas- 'look before you leap great advice I tell ya, I wonder if it'd too much trouble to give myself cat like agility. I'll have to ask sucrose one day being a cat person and all, At least I think she's a cat. I'll have to question her about those ears one day'

He thinks before continuing down the city but isn't able to move two feet before hearing his name called out and turn to find a large pile of presents approaching him at high speed. Quickly jumping aside to safety the male turns back to see the pile of presents now lying dead on the floor and buried underneath said pile is a blonde sorceress. Walking over the male helps her up and asks.

Thomas- so, what's with the mountain of presents?

Sarah- SFC members work fast.

Thomas- SFC?

Sarah- Sarah Fan Club. We only saved this city three weeks ago but they've already made me a fan club with forty five members club house and all.

Thomas- hey....how come I don't have a fan club?

Sarah- trust me you don't want one. These guys and some girls are insane. Chasing me up and down the city trying to get my attention or shower me in gifts. Especially this one guy named Albert who offered to build a large statue of me made entirely out of my favorite flowers.

Thomas- sounds like it'd be a bitch for anyone with hay fever

Sarah- I know! So, what's going on if your life?

Thomas- not much I've been real busy helping prepare the city for the next attack. Going up and down the streets helping where I can and although I haven't received nearly as many as you I have a few gifts of my own. By the way if you get hungry I have a roast waiting at good hunter.

Sarah- I'm good other SFC members baked me some goods and I couldn't turn them down without feeling guilty. So....any updates on the mysterious figure or why he hates you so much?

Thomas- none. Ever since his attack I've been scanning the device I got from him trying to track it back to any known technology or weapon manufacturer's and source any recent buyers but I've got nothing so I guess he just made the device himself. You?

Sarah- Nope, I've been using several spells to track any clues he might've left behind but the guy covers his tracks well.

Thomas- then in that case I guess our only bet is to wait for his return and then make sure he doesn't escape this time, rip that mask off his face and question him and then if provoked enough I'll probably kill him.

Sarah- next time I'll make sure not to get blasted off a wall and stick by your side the whole time 

Thomas- Cool. Anyways I'm gonna go double check on the outer wall and make sure everything is in order. Probably gonna re wire the turrets to stop shooting down birds too before we're buried in poultry.

Sarah- oh so thats why I got pelted by a drumstick earlier today.

Thomas- right I'll see ya around. Bye!

Sarah- Bye Thomas!

She waves happily watching him walk off towards the nearest wall and start to scale it. Clasping her hands together the girl makes her way through the city waving at any citizens with a happy smile on her face and ducking down whenever she sees a SFC member in the distance. Continuing to walk through the city she eventually runs into sucrose who's still leaning against the pillar from earlier lost in thought. Clapping her hands near her face she alerts the girl snapping her out of her trance.

Sarah- you good?

Sucrose- Oh Sarah it's just you! And yes I'm fine I was just thinking about something 

Sarah- oh yeah like what?

Sucrose- uh....something private. Alchemy related you wouldn't be interested in it

Sarah- if you say so

She replies going to walk off but feels the girl grab her by the arm pulling her back.

Sarah- what's up?

Sucrose- Umm...I just wanted to ask you something really quickly and it's okay if you don't answer.

Sarah- shoot

Sucrose- well...what's your relationship with Thomas? Are you two like a couple or just friends? Once again it's okay if you don't want to answer but I'd like to know for um....research purposes.

Sarah- 'hmm, I sense that this isn't just about research purposes if at all even, but still mom didn't raise a liar' We're just friends, why are you asking?

Sucrose- 'okay great!' Like I said research purposes 

Sarah- well alright then. See ya.

She says waving other alchemist goodbye before quickly ducking into a nearby alley and peeking back out at her. Staring intently at her the blondes eyes begin to glow silver and her ears perk up as she burrows into her mind listening in on her thoughts.

Sucrose- 'this is perfect, since those aren't dating and he's probably stuck here for a while I'll have plenty of time to work up the courage and get closer to him then one day I could tell him how I really feel'

Sarah- I knew it!

She whispers cutting off her connection and leaning against the wall behind her.

Sarah- 'great now I've got some competition for him, just because I said we weren't dating doesn't mean I don't have feelings for him too sucrose, but I'll play nice and give you a shot at him. Let him chose which one of us to date for himself'

She thinks before heading out and is immediately cornered by several SFC members who were standing just outside the alley way as they begin chasing her though the streets of mondstat.

Sarah- 'I HATE THESE HYPER FANBOYS!!!, I THOUGHT I WAS FREE FROM THEM AFTER THIS WHOLE DIMENSION CHARADE' AHHH!!!

She screams as she's knocked down and surrounded all at once by the fans. Sighing to herself the girl simply starts taking more gifts and answering questions thinking. 

Sarah- ' I guess somethings never change no matter where you are, I really have to learn that invisibility spell soon'