Noble soon got accustod to the strange looks they got from the bags of food floating behind her and her husband as she walked. It was barely any effort for her to use her Ability to drag the mountain of food behind her like a balloon.
And if it ant she was able to hold Fort's hand while they walked, that was even better.
Oddly, the park that Fort had brought up a little too naturally in conversation was only about a five-minute train ride and a twenty-minute walk through the streets of the NQSC.
The food took up nearly the entire train car. How had that much food fit on the table? It seed impossible, yet here she was staring at the bundles with her own eyes. It was a relief to get out of the cramped space and into the open air.
The weather was chilly, but Noble barely noticed the ti passing.
The only ti she really registered the outside world was when an older lady tried to get around them on the walking path and bumped into her instead.
Her cane went sprawling out, causing the woman to trip as well. If not for Noble's quick intervention, the elderly person would have planted her face in the pavent.
"I'm so sorry!" Noble gasped, grasping the lady's arm.
"You need to do sothing about that load of yours! It's taking up the whole walkway. I should report you for being a hazard!" she snipped at her junior.
The Master blushed, embarrassed. "I suppose you are right."
While the woman sniffed experintally at the air, Noble noticed her threadbare clothes. At so point in their walking, they had crossed into one of the poorer parts of town. Not quite the outskirts, but very close.
"What do you have there? Taking food ho?" Frowning, the lady patted her stomach.
Noble shot a glance at her husband, but he seed content to let her take the lead. She put on her most compassionate smile.
"I am actually quite full. Would you like a box to take with you?" Turning around, Noble took the closest box from her pile. By the sll of it, the dish was full of cheesy, gooey goodness.
"I don't know," the lady eyed her suspiciously. Was Noble making fun of her and her hunger?
"Take it as an apology." The professor pressed the box into the woman's free hand.
"Thank you," the old lady said slowly.
Fort tipped his wool hat. "Have a wonderful day!"
The stranger scratched her head as the pair returned their slow walk down the path. "Weirdos..."
Noble leaned her head on Fort's shoulder. "I think we made a mistake not taking the food ho before we continued with our date. Sure the air is cold enough to preserve the food for a while, but I didn't realize this part of town had gotten so rough."
"Things have changed a little," Fort answered vaguely.
Years ago Noble rembered how well-kept the streets had been, but with so many refugees and so little space, the cleanliness in the outskirts and the places closest to it had seen a drastic decline.
Noble began to fear what the park might look like when they finally arrived. "Maybe this was a bad idea. What if this ruins my happy image I have of our engagent?"
"Nothing could ruin that mont. Just trust ." Fort tucked her arm around the crook of his elbow. "We are nearly there."
Soon the street gave way and a large open area spread out before them.
"Oh!"
If not for so of the buildings as markers, Noble would never have recognized the place. What was once a serene park for young couples was now filled with peddlers trying to sell their wares as people passed by. People who walked the paved pathways seed more inclined to hurry than stop and sll the few muted flowers.
But the biggest change was the temporary structure right in the center of the square.
Noble squinted, "Is that..."
"Let's go see," Fort tugged her arm.
Confused, the professor followed her husband until they reached the door. A nicely dressed governnt agent greeted them as they approached.
"Director Fort! Ascended Noble! Right on ti!"
Noble blinked. They were expected?
Fort shook the other man's hand. "Euan, it is good to see you."
"It is good to be seen!" Euan pushed back his blond hair before patting his stomach. "And by the look of things it seems you brought what you promised. It slls amazing!"
"It should be enough food to get your group a hearty al. There are at least two of each kind. You'll have to excuse the few that we sampled, but I figure those can be children's portions." Fort laughed.
"I don't think anyone will complain about not having synthpaste for once. Though if you have a loaf of beans, I might selfishly snag that for myself."
"No such luck, I'm afraid," Fort shook his head sadly. "I'll have to get you one so other ti."
Noble felt her head reeling.
'I'm not crazy! The food did double when we left! And Fort tricked into bringing it all here while on our date. But why?'
The Director looked deep into his wife's swirling eyes and answered her unspoken question.
"You have such a big heart. I knew you would want to share that delicious food, so I found the closest refugee tent and offered to get them a al. Thankfully this camp is small or I might have bankrupted us to do it."
Pushing back the tent flap, Fort revealed a few dozen gaunt people huddled in family groups. They looked at her expectantly as the sll of the warm food filled the air.
Noble's mouth dropped open.
"Sorry for using you as a delivery PTV, but I didn't figure you would mind."
The professor's look of shock slowly blood into a smile as she turned to her husband.
"Just when I think you can't get any more handso, you go and include taking care of others to our events for the day. That ans a lot to . Thank you."
"I live to serve, mada," Fort bowed. "Mostly you, but occasionally others as well. Shall we?"
After entering the tent, the food was passed out quickly to the grateful occupants. It was not nearly what these people deserved as fellow human beings, but Noble hoped that for the mont, their day was a little less bleak.
At first, Noble was surprised by how little they ate until she rembered that their usual diet was likely much smaller and far less rich.
They were wise to take their ti and savor this mont.
Noble savored the mont too. Her heart went out to those displaced by the Nightmare Gates. From the youngest child to the oldest frail woman, Noble found herself caring deeply for these people's well-being.
The familiar tingle in her soul activated.
'I hope it helps,' she wished silently.
After a while, Noble felt that their ti there had co to an end. She turned to her husband with a happy sigh.
"What's next?"
Fort raised his eyebrows. "What? Was this not enough? I thought this was the perfect date!"
"It has been wonderful," Noble stumbled, "I just thought."
"I'm kidding!" Fort found his wife's pout too adorable. "I have more planned, but I'm not going to tell you just yet. Like this stop, the rest of the day is a surprise."
Taking her hand, they left the tent for their next adventure.
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