Chapter Text
'This date is not going well.' You thought as you smiled politely at the sweaty guy across the table. 'How in the world did my co-worker convince me to go on this blind date? He's not even my type.'
Sipping some wine as you only half listened to your date you glanced around the bar. It was crowded tonight and there was a lot of noise. Someone laughing at the bar caught your attention. You watched as a group of guys toasted to something at the bar. You smiled thinking it would be nice if you could join them. But alas your days of parties and fun were long gone.
Your mind drifted to your younger days back in the Satellite, that is until you felt a sweaty palm run up your bare leg trying to inch its way under your dress. 'Welp, time to go!'
Shifting your legs away from the unwelcomed touch you strained a smile and excused yourself from the table. Yep, walking out on this creep seemed like a good idea. You needed to get home anyway, you had barely been able to get the college student next door to watch you daughter for the night. Exams were coming up and the poor girl had to study.
Slipping over towards the bathroom and out the back you slipped your leather bomber on and pulled your keys from your purse. You were alone in the alley walking towards your jeep when someone grabbed and slammed you against the wall. Trying to get your bearings in the dark you realized it was your shitty date.
"What?!" You demanded pushing him away from you.
"Why'd you walk out on me? I thought we connected?" He slurred reaching for you again.
"I was being polite you creep." You slapped his hands away from your chest.
"But you gave me the look, didn't you?" He asked, stepping back in confusion.
"I do not know what you are on about. And I just want to go home to my kid." You stated firmly as you grasped the pepper spray on your keyring.
"No one told me you had a kid! Who wants a ruined woman?" He sneered as he stumbled off.
You rolled your eyes at the usual reaction you had any time you mentioned your daughter. She was the result of a one night stand, one you didn't remember much about. Just his eyes, a gorgeous stormy grey. They looked so steady and safe. How you wished you had stayed till morning. You didn't even know his name.
Getting in your jeep you started to make your way home. It was a bit of a drive from the bar and you found yourself thinking back to your mystery man as you drove. You sighed as you pulled into your garage, the drive was shorter than expected. Getting out of the jeep and closing the garage door you made your way inside.
A young woman sat at the kitchen island with an open textbook and a notepad. She hadn't seemed to notice your arrival as she was still focused on her work playing with a strand of her long green hair.
"How was she, Luna?" You asked lightly tapping her shoulder.
Luna jumped slightly. "She was fine. How was your date?"
"Creepy and sweaty." You grimaced grabbing a couple of glasses from the cupboard. "He called me a 'ruined' woman."
"Jerk." She pouted, closing her book and tidying up. "I hope you didn't have to pay for that creep."
"No, luckily not though he was drunk off his ass." You jested pouring you both a glass of raspberry lemonade.
"What was Nova's dad like? He wasn't a creep too was he?" She asked hesitantly.
You thought for a moment sipping your drink slowly. "Don't know." You answered honestly. "He was a one night stand. I don't remember much other than his eyes."
"Just his eyes? They must have been the most beautiful eyes on the planet." Luna giggled while sipping her own drink.
"It was less the color and more the look they held." You clarified. "They were the same color as Nova's though."
"Sounds like you might regret it." Luna hummed.
"I don't regret it. What I regret is not getting his name. I feel like he should have had a chance to know Nova and for them to have some sort of bond." You sighed plopping onto an empty stool.
"Well, do you have any other clues? Other than gorgeous eyes." Luna asked, pulling her notebook out of her bag again.
"What are you planning on hunting him down?" You giggled.
"Worth a shot." She shrugged.
You shook your head but dropped it. "Okay, but it's been eight years."
"So any other features you can remember even if a little hazy." She asked, pencil ready.
"His hair was long enough for me to run my fingers through, and it was a lot softer than it looked. He was built, definitely because he carried me up to his apartment. I have never been a size 2." You joked.
"Any facial distinctions? Mustache, taggings, tattoos?"
You hummed thoughtfully. "Maybe taggings? I remember something gold."
Luna started writing it all down. "Do you have an exact day?"
"Just a month or so after the WRGP." You hummed. "I was looking for new work around then in New Domino City. I moved here a few weeks before I found out I was pregnant."
"Your from New Domino?" Luna asked surprised.
"The Satellite actually, but I worked concessions during the WRPG. It was one of the few places that would hire a 17 year old woman with no work experience."
"Did you watch the races?" She asked.
"Not really. I don't even understand dueling. As a matter of fact I only have one card. Kuriboh. An original in fact."
"I thought everyone in the Satellite could duel?"
"Maybe if I had ever been let out of the box my mother kept me in as a child." You hummed sadly before shaking the memory.
"If you don't want to talk about it I won't ask." Luna assured as you cleared the empty glasses. "I know life was difficult in the Satellite. Some more than others."
"Thanks, but its okay. I just avoid enclosed spaces now if I can." You shrugged trying to lighten the mood again. "Look it's late, why not spend the night? Take the guest room for the night okay?"
Luna nodded as you headed upstairs to shower and change into your PJs. One thing about Motherhood you enjoyed was not having to dress to impress your kid.
--
The next morning you woke up before dawn as usual. What was unusual was the lack of sound. Nova usually came in asking for a ride to school by now. Slipping your fuzzy slippers and robe on you made your way down to the kitchen. The smell of Bacon and Eggs waking you a little more. You could even smell coffee.
Walking in you saw Nova munching on some toast as she finished her homework. Luna was on a Video Call as she cooked.
"Morning~." You croaked as you approached the coffee pot.
"Morning. You don't mind me using your VidPhone do you?" She asked plating some eggs and bacon and passing it to you.
"Nope, do you want a ride to school?" You asked sitting down next to Nova and sipping your coffee.
"Yea sure. This is Crow by the way." She said moving to the side so you could see the Person on the screen. He looked familiar. The name sounded familiar too. You half waved, not really paying attention. Luna went back to her call so you quickly finished your breakfast and went upstairs to get dressed for work.
You were a Manager at a Kaiba Corp. retail store. It certainly wasn't glamorous, however it paid the bills and kept food on the table. You pulled your wallet out and looked at the card you kept safely hidden there. It had been your strength and comfort as a child. Now it was a reminder to stay strong for Nova. You place the card carefully back in your wallet throwing it in your backpack, along with your phone and charger. Heading back downstairs with your bag you looked around for your keys.
"Looking for these?" Nova asked, tossing you your missing keys.
"Thank you, now go grab your bag or you're gonna be late! Don't forget your jacket." You ruffled her hair as she walked past. Nova had Sunset colored hair, a trait you assumed she had gotten from her father since your own hair was an icy blue color.
"Thank you for cooking breakfast." You sighed as you re-entered the kitchen. Luna appeared to be done with her call.
"No problem. I babysit so often for you, I practically live here." She smiled. "I even have a stash of clothes in the guest room."
"Was that your boyfriend on the call?" You asked. You couldn't help the nagging feeling that you had met him before.
"No, Crow is more like a brother." She brushed off as she picked up her bag. "Why? You interested?"
"I don't even know him, first of all. Secondly, my last blind date was shitastic." You scoffed double checking to make sure you had everything.
"Mommy, what's 'shitastic'?" Nova asked as she walked towards the garage door.
"Not a word for you to repeat." You sighed. Luna giggled as you all piled into your jeep. The drive was quiet as you saw the sun begin to rise. You dropped Nova off first since her school was closer.
--
"Crow seemed interested in meeting you." Luna interrupted your thoughts after Nova was gone.
"Why? What did you tell him?" You asked a little miffed. You were really beginning to hate Blind dates.
"Before you reject the idea. Consider the possibility he might be the mystery man from eight years ago." She soothed.
You glanced at her skeptically. "Alright I'll bite. What makes you think it might be this friend of yours?"
"Well, from your description. And the fact that Nova looks kinda like him? I hope you don't mind but I asked an old friend of mine who works at the Police department in New Domino and he asked if I was joking." Luna explained fiddling with her hair again.
"I don't know he seemed kinda familiar, but I was half asleep when I saw him on the phone."
"Well, why not meet him? Worth a shot right? Even if he's not the guy we're looking for, he's still a good guy." She coaxed.
You bit your lip thinking it over. On the one hand you didn't have any other leads. You hadn't really searched on the other hand either.
"He's good with kids." She added seeing you waver. "Plus he's got a stable career."
You snorted pulling into a Starbucks drive-thru. "What does he do for a living? Push papers?"
"No, he's a professional Turbo Duelist." She said smugly.
"Okay then, coffee?" You asked pointing to the board.
"Sure, I'll take a Cinnamon Dolce Latte." She leaned back while you ordered two coffees and pulled to the next window to pay.
"You really don't pay much attention to celebrities do you?" She laughed as you payed and took the coffees.
"Should I? They're just people like you or me, right?"
She took her coffee and rolled her eyes at your disinterest. "Crow was a Member of 5Ds and helped save the planet, twice."
"Then I will be sure to thank him, however I still don't know him. Even if he is Nova's father, and that's a big 'if', I wouldn't even know what sort of relationship it would even be."
"Okay, but at least meet him?" She pleaded as you pulled up to her school dropping her off.
"Alright then. Do you need a ride after school? I can pick you up on my way to Nova's school."
"Yea sure. I get out early today though so pick me up from the Campus Cafe okay?" She waved before heading over to her friend's. You left pushing all thoughts about Crow and your mystery man from your mind. You had to stay focused at work.