FALLING INTO LOVE
By: T-Drift
A/n: The events in this story are supposed to transpire before the tournament of King of Iron Fist 6, though I'm not sure I'll involve the tournament itself. Let's just say, having Jin own so much already and him being the one to announce the sixth tournament, I figured he'd host some kind of hotel (next to military bases and the like) that the fighters/participants would live in for a few days or weeks or more, till the day of/end of the tournament. Aside from that we all know how Jin's taken over the Mishima Zaibatsu and eventually gaining control of the world, so you imagine the rest.
So, yeah this base would have pools, workout gyms, pubs etc, etc. And of course, not too far from civilization, thus shopping malls and places like that would be close by. Oh and, before I forget – if you detect any OOC-ness (which I hope you won't), I'm sorry about that. I'll try to grasp their personalities as best I can!
This story involves one original character, who will be the main, and it will also include some Swedish sentences from time to time (to include some of Lars' Swedish heritage), but not so much as to ruin the experience. ;) There'll be a translation as well, don't worry.
Anyway, on with the first chapter! Hope you enjoy!
Disclaimer: I don't own the Tekken characters. And the title of this fic is based on Dana Glover's song "Falling into love"
Chapter 1
"You know, I… you know I never noticed," Asuka Kazama burst out in giggles and fits of laughter in-between sentences, her arms hung around the blond's neck.
"I never noticed… noticed," another giggle on the way, a choke on the last word emphasising how drunk she really was.
"You're pretty good-lo… looking," she almost tripped on his feet and took advantage of that situation in which to lean closer to him. Her face was barely an inch away from his at this stage, her smile seeming to want nothing more than to seduce him.
The cosy bar, owned by Kazama Jin, was not too crowded but familiar faces could be seen at tables or by the counter. Others were dancing to a distant melody playing from the jukebox. Evidently, Asuka's poor excuse for a dance seemed, to the few on-lookers, like nothing more than an attempt to get some sort of response from Steve. She was, simply put, hammered.
Too much sake, maybe. I'm surprised she even remembers my name from the last tournament.
This was not a situation Steve wanted to be in. Not only was Jin probably watching every movement another man made around his younger relative, but Steve feared a certain someone would walk in and catch him with this woman. This certain someone happened to be Asuka's friend. And Asuka was now not only clinging to him with a lustful look on her face, but she was also wearing a black dress which revealed a bit too much skin – it definitely wasn't a situation he wanted to be caught in. It also didn't help Asuka actually managed to place her left leg behind his right one.
Right. Kazama's probably on his way over as I'm thinking this. I need to do something.
"You're completely sloshed. I don't think Jin's going to like this, Asuka. Let's just-"
"Kiss me, Steve." She interrupted, and as Asuka leaned in to give Steve a peck on the lips he backed away instantly, trying not to let her trip and fall in the process. A firm grip by her shoulders steadied her from an embarrassing fall. Her slender legs wobbled left and right a few times before holding still - an obvious result of high heels and too much alcohol in one go.
"Okay so, she's either hammered, or she's unusually bold tonight and actually likes the guy." Water bottle in hand, the red-haired Korean spoke with sincerity. He eyed the Japanese man standing next to him as he took another gulp of water, waiting for a certain reaction, Kazama style.
"Hwoarang, she's obviously drunk. I'm going to escort her to her room. It's pretty late anyway," said Jin, evaluating the situation.
"Oh? Whatever happened to the 'he'll pay for messing with Asuka' line you always pull, who by the way is old enough to date already? You're way too overprotective." Hwoarang said almost provokingly with a slight grin on his face.
As Jin was about to out-wit that retort, he saw a familiar woman walk into the bar with a smile on her face. She wore a knee-length, sleeveless navy-blue dress that elegantly embraced her figure. Funny enough, she wore no shoes whatsoever. Her very dark-brown, elbow-length hair was set loose on her right shoulder.
"This is what I feared." Jin said quietly, his words audible only to Hwoarang.
"What?" Hwoarang, not understanding what Jin was on about, followed the latter's gaze and saw a woman walk into the bar. He then looked in the direction the woman was looking. He put two and two together.
"Oh. Right. Shit. Here we go." Hwoarang and Jin eyed their friend stopping dead in her tracks a few feet from where Steve and Asuka were standing, her a-second-ago-radiant smile slowly fading.
As unsteady and drunk as she was, Asuka still managed to steal a hug from Steve, her giggles almost that of a little girl.
"Why don't you sit down for a while, Asuka?" He tried to release the woman's grip from him, when suddenly she looked up and without warning pressed her lips against his.
As Steve was about to push her away, he reflexively looked up, and he instantly wished he hadn't. There stood the woman he, for once, had felt a genuine chemistry with these past few days. The two of them had mostly just been bumping into eachother at first, ending up talking about all sorts of things until they started meeting for breakfast almost every other morning. However, there was definitely something more emerging between them. And for once, Steve found unexplainable meaning and content in the gaze of those pretty chocolate-brown eyes of hers. He took this woman's emotions seriously, but his current situation didn't exactly justify that loyalty by glance.
Steve's eyes widened in an instant but his mind set into a totally blank state, and he saw the faint smile on the woman's full, red lips disappearing, an expression of hurt clear on her beautiful face.
The teasing black dress. The bare legs. His steady embrace. Their closeness.
Her lustful look...
"What…" barely a whisper escaped the woman's lips yet the word was still audible to Steve. The expression unmistakable.
Asuka, not being aware of the situation she was in, let go of Steve and turned around only to smile at the woman behind her.
"Oh, hey Sass." Asuka kept on smiling and merely looked at her friend.
"Sarah." Steve managed to say the woman's name as she retreated a step backward. After eyeing Steve and Asuka, Sarah looked down at the red carpet she was standing on, her heart pounding.
Racing
Not knowing what she was feeling or what to say or do, she looked away. Suddenly trembling with this new feeling inside of her, she turned around and ran a hand through her loose hair, the other one resting firmly on her hip.
Why does it hurt? She's my close friend. If she wants… if they… I shouldn't. Am I being selfish?
As Sarah was about to take her first step of leaving the bar, a hand caught hers from behind. The most comforting voice reached her ears, her name spoken in that charming British accent she'd fallen in love with the first time she had met him.
"Sarah, please. Don't walk away like this. It's not what it seems, I…" Steve hesitated for a moment.
"I don't know what you're talking about, you don't have to explain yourself to—" She was quickly interrupted by him.
"Yes I do need to explain myself. Sarah, you're trembling…" A humble whisper. A gentle squeeze of the hand.
That charming voice.
"Please, hear me out. I was trying to-" Another voice joined in and cut off Steve mid-sentence.
"Maybe you should just back the hell off, Fox." Jin could barely keep his anger under control as he blocked an arm between Steve and Sarah. He did control his frustration though, in respect to avoiding an unnecessary scene at the bar.
Sarah was one of his closest friends; Asuka was like the sister he never had. Protecting them was always a priority to him, but a difficult one at that. And he was well aware he could be too overprotective of them sometimes. But then again, when it involved guys, Jin knew better than to think he meddled too much.
Steve and Jin weren't friends, but they were well on their way, and it was all Hwoarang's doing. However, Jin didn't excuse any bad behaviour from Steve toward Sarah. In addition to that, it didn't make it easier to handle the Brit considering Jin's recent learning of Sarah harbouring some sort of feelings toward the boxer; he'd been observing her.
"Asuka, what do you think you're doing, getting drunk like this. Easy now, take a seat why don't you, before you fall over." Hwoarang tried to lead her to a vacant seat, but it was in vain. She was persistent to see Steve, it seemed.
"Where did Steve go?" Asuka whined a few feet away from where Jin, Steve and Sarah were standing, her view blocked by Hwoarang.
Sarah turned around and looked toward her close friend next to Hwoarang, and shifted her gaze, unwillingly, to Steve. They locked gazes for what seemed like an eternity to Sarah. She felt butterflies in her stomach, a blush dusting her cheeks, his crystal-blue orbs enchanting.
If I am dreaming, please, let me never awake.
Time seemed to have stopped, her surroundings seeming to go by in slow motion.
The look on his face showed a thoughtful side of him. A determined side.
A humble side…
Was it jealousy that clawed at my heart just now?
A tightening lump forming in her throat snapped her mind back to reality. Sarah immediately escaped Steve's grip on her hand and turned around, walking briskly out of the bar.
Jealousy, or…
… am I falling into love?
A/n: I hope this chapter piqued your interest for this story! And don't be shy to review, it helps me grow as a writer~