Comparisons
Disclaimer: I don't own Captain Planet or any of its characters and I'm not making any money from these fics.
Summary: Inexperienced in the ways of love, Linka can't help wondering if she's made the right decision.
A/N: I don't like to have too many fics on the go but as I haven't had the opportunity to update Stitch in Time, and this has been written for a while, I thought I'd share it. I hope you like it!
Chapter 1
The music was slow and formal and as much as Linka loved to dance, the only excitement she found was in the presence of her date.
The beautiful Russian was nineteen years old but despite having lead a life filled with magic, travel and danger for the last four years – which was far more than most young women could say – her experience with men was very limited.
The waltz ended and the two young people headed back to their table. "I'm so glad you could make it tonight Linka."
"Thank you." She smiled and arranged her long blue dress as he seated her. "I am happy to be here. A charity fundraiser in aid of protecting a nature reserve is a worthy cause."
Greg took his seat next to her and leaned closer making her blush. "It is a worthy cause, but I was hoping you came because you wanted to see me."
"Of course I…" Linka laughed nervously. "You know I did."
Having a handsome business man a few years her senior so clearly taken with her was very flattering, and the fact that he was being patient with her obvious shyness only enhanced his charm.
"So, how about something a little more private for our second date?" Greg asked smoothly. "There is a new restaurant just opened in town, assuming there is going to be a second date?"
"I would like that." She replied softly, looking at him from beneath her eye lashes.
Their conversation was interrupted by one of Greg's colleagues on the large circular table they were sharing, and the topic under discussion became business. Though Linka could have run rings around the company on a great many subjects, the every day details of their livelihoods was over her head, and not particularly interesting to the young ecologist.
Greg made no effort to include her in the conversation and in fact when she did ask a question about how their waste products were treated, he was quick to brush it aside with a joke so that it wouldn't offend his companions. When the conversation moved on he leant down to whisper an apology. "I'm sorry Linka, but this isn't the time or place to challenge people, if you want we can visit him in his factory sometime, I'm sure he will be happy to show you around."
"…of course." Linka smiled and gave in, but she was far from happy about what had happened. I am sure he did not mean to… but I feel like I am here to look pretty.
Under other circumstances she wouldn't have let anyone get away with it, but she was in unfamiliar territory and she did not yet know Greg well enough to challenge him.
As they walked out to the Geo-cruiser after the evening was over, Greg rested his arm casually about Linka's waist. The Russian was both uncomfortable and exhilarated by the contact and that made her nervous. When it came time to part, she quickly dodged into her craft avoiding any possibility of a good night kiss, and then spent the entire trip home wondering why.
"Hey Linka, how was the date?" Wheeler asked casually as she entered their living area. He was lounging on the sofa with a pizza on the coffee table in front of him and can of pop in his hand.
The Russian had taken a few moments to change out of her finery and into her pyjama's before going to look for her team mates. Though it had been late evening where her boyfriend was, in her own home it was still quite early.
"Good, thank you. Where are the others?" She flopped down on the other end of the sofa and snagged a slice of pizza.
"Hey! Didn't the Spud Prince spring for dinner?" he grabbed another slice for himself.
Ignoring the insult and adjusting her position so that she could put her feet up on his lap, the blond retorted. "Of course! He paid for our tickets as well as making a sizable donation to the charity… it was not a very big dinner though, and I was too on edge to eat."
"Oh? How come?" The American seemed genuinely interested but she shrugged.
"It was an important event for Greg. Even though it was for charity, a lot of business connections are made there, it was necessary that I give the right impression."
Wheeler didn't look impressed. "Did he tell you that?"
"He did not have to." Linka looked at the television screen, unable to focus her attention on the film he had been watching, but pretending to anyway.
"Babe… you shouldn't have to 'make the right impression'." There was concern in his eyes but Linka took another mouthful of pizza without looking round. "You should just be yourself."
The wind planeteer sighed and gave her companion a small smile. "I know that Wheeler… I was just uncomfortable, it was our first proper date and… well, I have not been on a proper date since before I joined the Planeteers."
Wheeler hesitated, the obvious retort already forming on his tongue before he bit it back. "They should be impressing you anyway, you save the planet every other day." He tickled the soles of her feet making her giggle and pull them back up to her body. "You wanna watch another movie while we have the place to ourselves? The others took the eco-sub down to Oceanus… I'd tell you why but I wasn't listening."
"Can I pick it?" Her eyes sparkled with mischief, fully intending to make him watch what he not so lovingly referred to as a chick flick.
"Only if you make popcorn when you've finished helping yourself to my dinner." He smiled at her. Though he hated the fact she was dating someone else, he just couldn't stay mad at her, and excluding her from his life would only have made him unhappier.
Linka grinned, feeling the tension of the last few hours seeping away. "Deal. I have a couple of musicals I am dying to watch!"
No matter how loudly he groaned, and he did, she had a feeling he would enjoy them. Her American companion always seemed to like the films she chose, even though he would never admit it.
To be continued…