Mike Thinks Quinn is a Ninja (He's Not Wrong)
A/N: I don't even know where this came from. Yeah. I kinda suck at writing. Constructive criticism would be really helpful. This is just a one-shot, but I'm considering making it like a one-shot series. Tell me what you think?
Oh yeah…and Fabang friendship for the win! pewpewpew.
Spoilers: Up to 1x12 Mattress.
Disclaimer: Don't own show or characters….blah blah….trolls…I would make Faberry happen…..blah….Ryan Murphy….blah.
Quinn Fabray can be very sneaky.
It's a well-known fact that she's a manipulative, lying bitch. But there are secrets that no one knows.
"Ninja."
Well except Mike Chang.
Quinn had just managed to convince Sue Sylvester to give the glee club a whole page in the yearbook. She felt accomplished. She would hand over the page, but there's no way that she would admit to the reason behind it. Quinn didn't have to be involved whatsoever. She walked down the halls, holding a smirk, letting people begin their guesses to the reasons behind it. It had been a while since she had this sense of adrenaline and she intended to make the most of it. (Even if her previous uniform now felt strange on her…and tight.) Let them start their rumors. (Her attitude wouldn't be the same tomorrow, but that's tomorrow. Let Future Quinn worry about that.)
"Why'd you do that?"
A small, timid voice spoke from behind her. It was unfamiliar to her, she ignored it. It hadn't been specifically directed to her anyways, she could play it off like she hadn't heard it. But then they called her name,
"I really don't want to deal with-Mike?"
Quinn had turned around slowly, rolling her eyes. She was surprised to see the quiet Asian in front of her, almost as surprised as she was to actually hear him speak. The amount of times she had actually heard him say anything were still stuck counting on one hand.
He gave her a small smile – the adorableness of it could compete with Finn's side smile, she felt a pang in her gut.
"What do you want?" She erased the thoughts of the tall boy from her mind; she was still riding on her high. She asked the question with pure curiosity, removing the usual sneer from her voice. She didn't have anything against Mike. He was a nice guy and was on the football team. But she still wondered why the boy had approached her, let alone talk to her. They may have been in glee club together, but they didn't talk. Mike rarely spoke at all really. Thus, bringing them back to the question at hand:
What did Mike Chang want from Quinn Fabray?
"The yearbook….you…" Mike danced around his words, slightly stuttering. Quinn wanted to laugh at the fact that they might have another stuttering Asian, even if the other's had started to dissipate. He continued trying to form words, but Quinn knew what he was talking about. She mentally cursed. How could he have seen? She felt slightly racist for the reasons that popped into her head.
"I don't know what you're talking about." She lied. She was an expert at it; it was one of her top talents. There was some saying about using your talents to their best ability. She never felt remorse before about lying, but with everything going on in her life right now…well she started to sing a different tune. Metaphorically and literally, glee club had been part of the reason as well.
Mike looked unconvinced though. He frowned at her. "I think you know exactly what I'm talking about." Whoa…where did that come from? Was he being stern with her? Nobody talked to her like that.
She was Quinn Fucking Fabray.
…
Since when did she start thinking like Santana? Quinn was the HBIC, but thinking that thought, she heard the Latina's voice in her head. She blamed it on the pregnancy hormones - something she had been doing a lot lately, it had become her number one excuse.
She stayed quiet in her thoughts and really didn't want to talk to him. Not about this. She couldn't even explain herself. The reasons were….skeptical, even to her. And she didn't even have to explain herself. Especially not to a nosy, pop-and-locking Asian. He nodded at her, even though she hadn't spoken. "Right. Sorry, I'll just go."
Quinn let out a sigh of relief as he started to walk in the opposite direction. Not like she was tense or anything. There was no reason for that. Quinn was ready to go home and forget about the whole thing. She was planning a little celebration for herself (if no one was going to do it for her, she might as well – it's not like she planned on telling anybody why she deserved it). She was almost salivating at the thought of spending the rest of her afternoon with some bacon, when something caught her eye.
It was hanging a little out of his pocket; the light slightly hit it, making a gleam in her eye.
She ran over to him and took it out, examining it in her hands. It had been what she was expecting, more or less. But under more observation, she noted the differences.
Mike stood there, a little in shock. But then that changed into confusion and then amusement. "Really Fabray?"
Quinn flipped it open and turned it on, squealing in delight when it actually worked. She tore her eyes away from the device to look up at Mike. "But its not-"He held up a hand, silencing her. "Prototype," he said simply. She sensed a hint of annoyance in his voice, she didn't blame him. She didn't know how she didn't see it before.
A Pokedex.
Mike Chang had a freaking prototype Pokedex in his pocket. Quinn was grinning as wide as the Cheshire Cat as she explored her new toy. But then she realized what she was doing. She looked frantically around the hall, but whoever was left as school was ending wasn't looking at her – she ignored the dread growing in her. She handed the Pokedex back to Mike, quickly regaining her composure. Her eyes still lay on the shiny red object.
Mike was smiling at her. Grinning and holding back laughter. She didn't know whether to slap the look off of him or begin laughing herself. "I have the real one at my house-" He had her at real; she practically pushed him out of the school and followed his car to his place.
Quinn forgot the fact that she and Mike weren't friends. She forgot their little conversation. She forgot her promise to keep to herself. All that was on her mind was to hold that official Pokedex in her hand. Her little celebration with bacon still lingered in her head, but she figured it could hold off until later. Priorities. Professor Oak's device currently called for her attention. This couldn't wait.
The Chang household was quiet and pristine. It reminded her of her own clean, 'perfect' home. Except the air in the house was refreshing. Nothing was lingering, no secrets, no facades. The thoughts of her own broken home left her mind once she entered Mike's room. It was completely different from the rest of the house. It was dark, curtains covered the window and the room was painted black. 5 screens. Quinn counted them. A giant plasma, a small old TV set, and 3 computer monitors. The posters showed superheroes and badasses, she would nod or shake her head in approval. It was a mess, but organized. His clothes and food were everywhere, but figurines – not dolls - and games were neatly stacked or placed strategically on shelves.
She stayed quiet in awe; her eyes couldn't open any wider. If she had a choice, this would be her room. Without a doubt. (She could do without the Sonic poster, something about hedgehogs just seemed weird to her.)
Mike stepped over an opened bag of chips, grabbing a box with assorted Pokemon stickers on it. She laughed when she saw a familiar pink ball of fluff. Jigglypuff. It stood out from the basic and legendary Pokemon that were around it. He opened it, revealing a multitude of Pokemon collectibles. The original Pokedex laid on the top and center. She could swear that it was glowing. She started to reach out for it, but Mike closed the metal lid of the box just before she could grasp it, she barely had her hand out in time.
"What the hell Mike?" She was livid. She felt like a kid who had just been taunted with candy, only to have it taken away from her. She stomped her foot and crossed her arms, developing a pout. She was acting like a kid. Pregnancy hormones.
"You owe me an explanation." Mike stared her down. She didn't like this. This position. She was usually on the other side, looking down at the other person. She was used to a seat of power, not this vulnerable state. But god, she wanted to hold that Pokedex. "I don't owe you anything." She held up her chin and looked him in the eye.
"Fine." He started to pull away the metal box. She could see the smirk on his face as she yelled at him to stop. He turned back to face her.
"Okay…what do you want to know?" She sighed, but her head ran with thoughts of a million excuses.
"Why'd you get a page in the yearbook for the club?"
"I did it for the glee club." It wasn't a lie. Mostly. Sure, it wasn't her direct reason, but it still had a little part in it. She truly did love glee club.
Mike nodded, but she noticed his brow furrow. He was still unconvinced. "There's more."
"No actually, there isn't." She's planning out her argument, coming up with a story about how much glee means to her. Well not really 'come up with', but it's not the reason why she stood up to Sue.
"Is it Rachel?" He says it so simply. Rachel. As if it's just a natural thing to say. She hates how he can be so calm while he says it. Her face blanches. She's in too much shock to show anger towards him. How could he even mention her? It's Rachel Berry for
God's sake.
"N-no. Why would it be Berry? I told you I did it for glee club. Like I would do anything for her anyways." She makes sure to add disgust saying 'Berry' and 'her'. It disgusts her to let it leave her lips, it does.
Quinn Fabray is also very convincing, to herself.
To Mike Chang…not so much.
It was probably her stutter in the beginning. Well if he hadn't brought her up, she wouldn't even be in this mess.
He shrugged. She hates when people shrug. Why can't they just say yes or no? There can't be an in between. Hypocrite. The voice in her head always chooses the wrong moments to pop up – like earlier today.
Mike gives her this knowing look; it's reassuring and freaky at the same time.
Then, his arms are around her, keeping her upright. She doesn't even know when her knees gave out or when she started gasping for air as tears fell from her eyes.
He's bringing them to the floor slowly, soothingly rubbing her back. He's quiet and doesn't make her explain. She doesn't know whether or not he understands, but the way he holds her makes her feel like he does.
But she can't say it.
It's not something that she's come to terms with yet. She doesn't know when or how it started, but it tears her from the inside out. She feels like throwing up, like screaming out. It's worse when she sees her. Except for the want of taking her against the lockers.
…
Damn pregnancy hormones.
She didn't know when Mike started singing. But he was rocking her back and forth, singing. She's never really heard his voice. It's soft and quiet, soothing. It would've calmed her down if he had chosen a better song choice.
Why did he have to sing 'Lean on Me'? There are a million songs in the world and that's the one he chooses. With her eyes closed, she imagines a brunette singing it to her with a smile on her face.
A smile that she doesn't deserve. Not from her. She doesn't deserve to hear such a beautiful voice singing for her. But it's not for her. It's for the boy that sat next to her, too oblivious to see her jealousy and the fact that he's not the father of her child.
Quinn cries harder and leans into Mike's arms.
"I hate Rachel Berry."
She can feel Mike nod. "I know Quinn. I know."
She doesn't know why she's letting herself cry into Mike. She should have already pushed him away and gone home. But he has this calming aura. And her hormones have her acting crazy. And then there's Rachel Berry.
He holds her until her sobs turn into sniffles and then heavy breathing, finally calming down with soft gasps.
He gets up and starts going through his things. She should get up and leave now, but she's tired. She can't bring herself to leave the floor. But he comes back, throwing things to her. A controller and headset fall into her lap. She looks up at him quizzically. The giant plasma is brought to life. Mike turns on his XBOX. He sits down next to her, headset on and controller in hand. She continues to raise an eyebrow at him. He doesn't answer her, just begins setting up a co-op games of Halo. She looks back to the items in her lap and slowly puts the headset on.
An hour later, she's shouting obscenities in her headset to some kid on the other side of the country. Mike is next to her, a completely serious face on as he maneuvers his fingers over the XBOX controller. Even with their incompetent teammates, the two manage to snag their fifth consecutive win.
Quinn jumps up, cheering and does a victory dance. Mike is up along with her, whooping and they high-five. Quinn grins at the Asian.
"Thanks..for this," she says quietly.
He nods with a smile.
She looks at the time and hands Mike his controller and headset.
"Right. So I should go. Thanks again."
"We should do this again."
"Hm?" She quirks an eyebrow. She hadn't been expecting that. She considered this to be a one time thing, like hanging out with Puck.
"That way, we won't be on the same team next time and I can pown you." He flashes a wide smile.
"Oh really? You think you can beat me?"
"You may be good, but you're still a girl," he says with a shrug. Mike's slowly figuring out her buttons and pushing them.
"You're going down Chang."
"Don't count on it."
"Tomorrow afternoon. After school. Bring your game."
"I've always got it."
Their afternoon sessions of videogames becomes a regular thing. Quinn doesn't have anything to do after school, not without Cheerios. And she didn't like staying at Finn's. It's not like she didn't like staying there. Finn and his mom were good to her. But that was exactly the problem.
Their afternoons consisted of junkfood and XBOX Live. Sometimes Quinn opens up and cries. She talks about how scared she is for the months to come. She talks about Finn and her guilt. (She had admitted it to Mike during their third time together.)
But most of all, she talked about Rachel.
It was a relief and punishment at the same time. But it was nice to have someone who knew her secret. Someone else who could try and understand it, like she had been trying to.
Which brought them to their current conversation.
"Ninja."
"What?"
"You're a ninja."
Quinn scoffed. "Yeah sure. Pay attention to the game."
He paused it. "What the fuck Chang?"
"I've been thinking about it and you help Rachel out a lot."
"Sure I do."
"Well you were the one who saw her crying and that's why you got that yearbook page."
"I regret telling you the truth about that now."
"But you're a ninja. You saw here when no one else did an got the page without anyone knowing. I didn't know you had the skills."
"That doesn't make me a ninja."
"Yes it does."
"No, it doesn't."
"Well I have ninja blood in me, so your argument is invalid."
"What? I'm not a ninja!"
"I don't know why you won't accept it. It's not like it's a bad thing."
"Look just forget what I told you. I didn't do anything, okay?"
"You're like a Rachel Berry Ninja."
"A what?"
"You're only in ninja mode for her, so…"
She glared at him, but his grin was stuck on his face.
"Unpause the game."
"Not until you admit that you're a Rachel Berry ninja."
"Oh my god. No!"
"Yes."
"If I admit it, will you please unpause the game so I can shoot you in the head?"
"Let me just get my camcorder…"
"Mike!"
"But this is a historic moment. Quinn Fabray is going to admit to something. Something related to Rachel Berry." He muttered the last part under his breath.
"I can just go home."
"Fine. No camera."
Quinn took a deep breath, taking her sweet time.
"I'm a Rachel Berry Ninja. There. Happy?"
"Ecstatic."
"Great. Now get you head in the game. Getting a headshot on you is no fun if you're not trying."
"Whatever you say Rachel Berry Ninja."
Quinn opened her mouth to respond, but Mike had unpaused the game.
Quinn got 12 headshots that afternoon.
The next day at school, Jacob Ben Israel was talking to Rachel at her locker. She had on a look of disgust and was disinterested in the conversation.
Quinn watched from down the hall.
Mike's locker was across from Rachel's.
Later, Jacob Ben Israel wasn't seen in any of his classes. During math, Mike turned to face Quinn. (They were seated in alphabetical order – by last name.)
"Ninja." He pointed to the empty chair a few seats down from Quinn.
She only grinned devilishly at him.
He turned back to the front, smiling.
Rachel came in as the bell was ringing and sat down next to Mike. She greeted him and even turned to Quinn, giving her a small wave.
"Thank you." She gave a grateful smile to Quinn.
"You're welcome," Quinn spoke softly.
Mike looked between the two girls.
Locking eyes with Quinn, he said again, "Ninja."
Rachel raised an eyebrow at Mike before turning to Quinn.
"It's nothing Berry." Quinn gave her perfect eyeroll and pretended to look down at the papers on her desk, but still kept an eye on Rachel.
The brunette continued to stare down Quinn until she gave it up and turned to Mike.
"What are you talking about?"
"Quinn's a ninja."
Rachel was about to ask further about it, but the teacher called for attention from the class.
Quinn finally looked up and bore holes into the back of Mike's head.
He must've felt it because he turned around to face her for a second.
"Sorry," he whispered before turning back around.
Quinn sighed as a paper flew onto her desk. She opened it slowly.
Are you going to explain this 'ninja' business?
Quinn looked up at Rachel, she was facing the front of the class, but she could see her looking at her through the corner of her eyes.
It really is nothing. Just don't worry about it.
Rachel had her hand out and Quinn placed the note in it. It was back in less than a minute.
Well you two have managed to spark my curiosity. Not just one hint?
Quinn could imagine the pout that went along with this.
Mike just thinks that I'm a ninja. He's crazy.
She saw Mike looking over at the note as Rachel wrote her reply. He laughed to himself quietly.
He must have some reason to assume so.
Why was she always so persistent?
Why don't you ask him?
She watched as Rachel did so and Mike only grinned at her with a slight shrug,
He won't tell me. It's really quite frustrating. Will you please tell me?
Quinn didn't know what to write back. It's not like she could just say, "I'm actually a Rachel Berry Ninja and I help you out without you knowing. That's all. Oh and it's all because I have this huge lesbian crush on you and whenever you make that cute little pout, I want to kiss it away. It's really nothing." Quinn sighed as she put her pencil back to the note, writing back.
She watched Rachel's eyes widen with a gasp.
Really?
One word? That was a little out of character for Rachel.
Yes.
But not for Quinn. The notes stopped there and Rachel sat quietly in her seat. Quinn would give almost anything to be able to know what was going on in that head of hers.
When the period bell rang, Quinn gathered her things quickly and got up to leave. Rachel rushed as well and began to walk along Quinn as the entered the hallway.
"Really?" Rachel's voice was confused and slightly unconvinced.
"Yes Berry. Why would I lie?" Because you lie all the time.
"Why'd you do that?"
"For the glee club." Like now for instance.
Rachel seemed to accept that answer, unlike Mike had, who was watching them from a safe distance down in the hall.
She grinned at Quinn. "You do care about glee club."
"Of course I do."
"Well thank you for that Quinn and earlier….with Jacob."
"Right. Well doesn't expect stuff like that to happen often."
Rachel only giggled, obviously still happy about Quinn being so giving.
"Well I'll see you later Quinn." She bounced down the hall to her class.
"Yeah. Bye." Rachel didn't hear her as she was already long gone.
Mike came up to her as she opened her locker.
"Ninja."
"Do you know how much I want to hurt you right now?"
"Did you tell her you were a Rachel Berry Ninja?"
"No."
"Well you should have. And kudos on Jacob by the way."
Quinn shrugged. "Jewfro had it coming."
"Except Rachel knows what you did, so it doesn't really count."
"Whatever."
"You're losing your touch Fabray."
"Am not!" Only Quinn would know everything that happened to Jacob.
"Your COD ratio dropped."
"Shut it."
"I'm just saying." He smirked at her.
That afternoon, Quinn beat Mike at a game of COF and managed to get back her ration. And then some. Jacob Ben Israel was still nowhere to be seen. (They had two days before they would report him as officially missing – Quinn had plenty of time.) Rachel Berry was at home, working for a new song to sing for the glee club. She took a little break for her voice. She smiled as she thought of Quinn and what she did for the glee club and her.
"Quinn Fabray is a ninja."
Rachel smiled to herself and went back to working on her song.