A study in the relation of Character.

He sat up, the world was black to him. He was in his bed, he felt around the sheets, they were cool. She was gone, last night had been wonderful. A combination of emotions and physical connections. He felt her hands now, she was touching the fur between his antenna, she slid behind him on the bed. "Good morning Fuzzy."

"Hi." he smiled reaching back to pull her arms around his shoulders. He moved his head down kissing her hands. "You smell like honey."

"Thank you." she kissed his neck.

"Anything for my beautiful girl." he smiled at her and held up a hand and turned to his night stand. "I love you. However, Mars is a much different place from earth. Being together is a much more serious thing."

"I could not think of anything more serious then us." she touched the side of his face, the bionic eyes not really able to focus on her.

"Yes well, there's like tradition and things where I come from." He moved his hands to the drawer of the nightstand; he pulled out a small box, and set it on the bed for her. "Don't touch that yet, I want to get my glasses."

"Here." she handed the green specs to Throttle. "what is this?" She lifted the small box up in her hands.

"Lets just say the humans call them promise rings." He slid his glasses over his eyes.

"Really?" She opened the box.

"Charlie I love you, I never want that to come into question." Throttle ran his fingers through her hair. She lifted out the two bands. "They're made of titanium," he lifted up the smaller of the rings and slid it onto her hand. There were three little diamonds in the ring, and one of them was an emerald.

"What is this?" She looked closely.

"That's the three of us, you love us all, but the green one is me." He smiled running his thumb over the band.

"It's beautiful." She leaned up wrapping her arms around him. "Thank you."

"Don't thank me." He smiled and kissed her gently. She lifted the solid titanium band up in her hand.

"This one is yours?" She looked on the inside of the band, and saw her name carved into the inside of the band.

"Yeah." he watched her place it on his finger. "The inside of your band says Throttle."

"They are perfect."

"Just like you."

A small knock came to the door. "Hey Throttle have you seen Charlie?" It was Vinnie.

"Uh no... why?" He put his hand over Charlie's mouth.

"I think I'm in trouble." Vinnie leaned against the door.

"What's wrong?" Throttle let go of Charlie and moved to the door. The door pulled back and Vinnie turned.

"I um... well I put it out but... I kinda set the kitchen on fire." Vinnie looked down.

"WHAT!?" Charlie stood and pushed past Throttle. "You did WHAT?!"

"Um, what are you doing in Throttle's room?" Vinnie looked at the two.

"You set the kitchen on FIRE?" She put her finger on his chest. "You are so dead."

"I'm sorry..." His mind snapped "No really what are you doing in his room."

"Clean up my kitchen." She pushed Throttle back inside and shut the door.

"What was that?" Modo blinked

"I think we have a problem here." Vinnie pointed at the door.

"Are they bound?"

"I don't think so." Vinnie gave the door a once over. "But they sure connected." He turned "I'll be cleaning the kitchen..."

Modo said nothing he could smell it too, he looked down and pushed back into his room.

Modo lay on his bed, he loved it, this memory foam stuff. It did not matter if his arm was made of machine, with this soft downy mattress he could sleep through anything. He put his feet up and grabbed his book and continued to read.

Charlie had come into a lot of money. One of her mother's sisters had passed away, and she got her house and all her belongings, and a lot of cash in the deal. She did the first thing she could moved herself and the mice into the large 5 bedroom Victorian house, kick out the cat, and buy new furniture. An xbox for Vinnie, a soft Mattress for Modo, and a very large and very full bookshelf for throttle with books on a variety of subjects.

When Throttle emerged he'd moved straight for the shower. He was in the shower for about ten minutes, and emerged and walked into the kitchen in just his boxers. Vinnie was scrubbing the tile floor to get the black off. Throttle walked in and opened the fridge and grabbed out a small bottle of water.

"What is going on?" Vinnie stood up and wiped his head. "With you and Charlie I mean."

"I'm going to stay with her."

"Is that even possible?" Vinnie blinked "Well I know that... well you know, is possible, but... "

"I'm taking care of it." Throttle looked at his younger counter part. "everything will be fine."

"She's not really a mouse you know, I doubt that will work." Vinnie stood and was completely serious, a rare thing.

"Vincenzo, look." Throttle pulled out a kitchen chair and turned it around sitting backwards. "I understand you are upset, I should have talked to you both, you and Modo. However, I understand the fact that the war on mars is over and we are here defending the human race out of good will."

"And you think Charlie is some kind of payback for your kind service?" Vinnie tossed his rag in the wet bucket.

"No, not at all, I love her, and unlike Carbine she loves me back. I just want to be happy while I'm here, now that I think of it I don't really want to leave earth. Modo goes to see that cocktail waitress down at the bar." he shrugged

"Amy?" Vinnie looked around "man I am out of the loop."

"Get your eyes out of the mirror and you could see this stuff better." Throttle laughed a bit at him.

"Amy?" He looked back at Throttle "really?"

"Yeah really..." Throttle smiled "You should see the way he looks at her."

"I need to get out more." Vinnie crossed his arms leaning on the wall.

"I encourage that, you should." He stood pushing his chair back against the table "Might do you some good." Before Vinnie could comment back on the subject, Throttle was down the hall and back into his room.

Vinnie looked down at the floor, he was almost done cleaning up the disaster he caused, and Charlie wouldn't know the difference.

She laughed opening the door. "I can't believe you are going with me."

"As long as they arn't real fleas at this so called Market I'm ok with it." Throttle pulled the door behind them.

"They call it a flea market but I promise there are no fleas." she laughed taking his hand.

"Hey Vin." Throttle turned into the kitchen, he looked around "wow, nice job."

"Thank you." he tossed the rag into the sink. "S'up kids?"

"We are going out to something called a..." he looked at Charlie "Flea market."

"They sell a lot of odds and ends and I was thinking we could all go." Charlie smiled "There's also a motorcycle parts dealer out there and I need a few things for my bike."

"Sounds like fun." Vinnie smiled and grabbed his bandana off the table. "I'll go grab modo."

"Good we'll be outside." Charlie turned and headed for the door Throttle hot on her heals.

Vinnie moved down the hall, he stopped at his room and opened the door turning off his stereo and sitting on his bed he pulled on his boots. He stood tying his bandana around his neck. He was ready to go, hitting the hall he turned to Modo's room and gave the door a knock.

The door opened and Modo stood in the frame of the door. "What's going on Vinnie?"

"Charlie is taking us all out to a Flea Market or something, said theres odd stuff and motorcycle parts." he shrugged "Sounds like fun."

"I'll get my boots." There was a lot of Joy in Modo's voice, more than normal. "I love these things."

"Why?" Vinnie asked coming in.

"You'll see when we get there." There was a horn honking. "Charlie and I went to one months ago." the honking continued.

"That's the pick up." Vinnie turned to the door "Let's go bro get a move on!"

Charlie and Throttle and sat in the large black extended cap pick up. Modo came down the stairs to the house, Vinnie lept over the rail. "Lets go guys!" Charlie leaned out of the passenger seat.

"Coming!" Vinnie ran at the truck and hopped up into the back with Modo.

"Glad you guys decided to come." Charlie smiled at them.

"Thanks for inviting us Charlie ma'am, let's go!" Modo smiled fastening his seat belt. "This is gonna be awesome!"

The trip would be half an hour to the west, so Vinnie had explained how he had blackened up the kitchen, but Charlie praised him for cleaning up the mess. Throttle looked in the rear view mirror at Modo.

"Hey big guy," He smiled "Where did you go last night."

"Me?" Modo looked around and blushed a bit. "I went to The Blind Pig."

"Again?" Charlie looked back at him. "I see." She smiled at him.

"You gonna ask her out Bro?" Throttle laughed at him.

"Out?" He was in a bit of disbelief "Like on a date out?"

"Yeah." Throttle smiled "Why not?"

"I just need some more time is all." Modo sighed "I like her don't get me wrong, but she's got a boyfriend."

"One that doesn't treat her very well I might put in." Charlie looked at him, and reached back into the backseat and took his metal hand. "Invite her over tomorrow night and we'll have a friendly backyard BBQ"

"That's a great idea Charlene." Throttle smiled.

"Oh I like Grilling!" Vinnie smiled rubbing his hands together.

"Ok group we're here." Throttle pulled up to the gate and person waved him in and to the left, he pulled across the grassy field to find a place to park out of the way. New truck and all, it was kind of Throttle's new baby, he didn't want her scratched, scuffed, or even dirty.

Vinnie jumped out of the truck and smiled looking around. "Dude comic books!"

"There are all sorts of things here Vinnie." She smiled.

"Sweetheart you are the best ever." Vinnie looked at her with pleading eyes. She pulled out two envelops and handed them to Modo and Vinnie.

"Don't spend it all in one place." She smiled.

"Thank ya ma'am." Modo kissed her cheek.

Vinnie had already run off with his allowance. "One hour boys then back to the truck!" She was yelling for Vinnie's sake.

"Let's go Charlene." Throttle grabbed her hand. "Don't want to miss that Motorcycle dealer."

"Ok." She smiled.

An hour passed and Throttle was helping a man Load two large boxes into the bed of the pick up. "Thanks so much."

"No problem, any friend of Charlie's is a friend of mine." The man shook Throttle's hand and left the two alone.

"No bad, gonna be able to fix those two bike's sitting out in the shed, get them out of there." He smiled and looked up seeing Vinnie bounce back with a few bags of Comic books and some clothes. Modo was right behind him and had a few things, books mostly, and a few pieces of pottery. No matter how tough Modo was, he had a kind soft heart. He had another bag in his left hand holding it gently as he could.

"What's in there Modo?" Charlie smiled

"Ah it's nothing." He looked down at the wrapped package "It's for Amy."

"Awe." Charlie smiled "You are adorable."

"There's only room enough for one fuzzy adorable mouse here." Vinnie smiled and jumped into his seat in the truck.

"Vincenzo you are something else you know?" Throttle looked over and smiled, a man was walking up and Throttle walked out to meet him. They spoke a little, Throttle shook his hand and smiled taking a set of keys.

"What is that all about?" Modo asked

"I bought something for me." Charlie smiled. "We've got to get it loaded up."

"I'll help." Modo handed his items to Charlie. "be right back."

"What did you buy Charlie?" Vinnie looked back.

"A very old Harley." She smiled "From way back in the stone age of motorcycles."

The man turned and his sons were moving it slowly, Modo walked past them and picked up the bike with his mechanical arm and carried it back to the truck. They had headed home after Modo and Throttle had tied the bike down and arranged the boxes around. They covered it with a bright blue tarp, so that it would be protected on the ride home.

"Nice haul boys." Charlie smiled looking at the truck bed full of parts.

"Lets get home! I'm starving." Vinnie whined from the back seat.

"You are always hungry." Throttle smiled pulling his keys from his pocket. "Let's hit the road bros."

The afternoon had gone off smoothly without a hitch. Throttle was in the Garage, sorting parts into bins so he could find them later. Vinnie was laying in bed playing his xbox, and Charlie was sitting on Modo's bed talking with him.

"You must really like her." She smiled at him.

"Yeah, I kinda do." he blushed under his fur. "I wish she's just leave that creep."

"Does it really bother you?" She was hugging his pillow.

"A little." Modo sat down beside her. "I just don't know what else to do."

"I think it's time we went out for a drink." Charlie smiled.

"Um, are you sure Charlie Ma'am?" Modo stood up almost ready to dash out the door and almost ready to rethink the idea.

"Come on, we'll get Throttle, and go."

"What about Vinnie?" He asked pointing in the direction of Vinnie's room.

"I'm taking care of that." She stood and headed for Vinnie's room. "Hey... "

"Hiya." He stared blankly at the TV his headset on and the controller in hand.

"Want to go out for Beer?"

"Root beer?"

"No." Charlie looked at him blankly

"Can't... gotta raid this building..." he suddenly died on screen. "What are you guys doing to me?" he yelled into the microphone.

"We're going out, don't burn the place down like you tried to do this morning." Charlie laughed. "be good."

"Gotcha." He was still talking in to the microphone as she left. Modo was in the hall waiting for her.

"He's a bit busy." She smiled and started for the kitchen. The back door slammed and in walked a tall dirty mouse. Throttle was wiping his hands off as he walked up to Charlie and kissed her. "Hi there, want to go to the bar?"

Throttle looked at Modo and then to Charlie. "Where ever you like my lady." He moved past her and grabbed his keys and tossed them to her. "Just let me clean up real quick that new baby of yours got me filthy."

"I hope not too much, that's my job." she smiled "we'll be on the porch."

Throttle walked into the room he and Charlie shared and found himself a new pair of jeans and grabbed his vest off the bed. Taking a wet rag he wiped as much of the grease as he could out of his fur. He hated it his fur was dark but it didn't like to come out, black was black. Vinnie had gotten some grease on his ear once and it was there for nearly 6 months. Vinnie was white, you knew if he was not clean.

Throttle laughed to himself thinking about the time he and Modo talked about mixing Kool-aid mix and very little water and spreading the paste over Vinnie's fur. Had they done it Vinnie would have been a blue mouse.

"Blue mouse." He grabbed his wallet off of the dresser and left his room pulling the door behind him. Modo and Charlie were sitting on the porch swing when he emerged. "Hey Modo, do you remember Blue mouse?"

"You don't really want to do that do you?" Modo laughed at him.

"What are you talking about?" Charlie moved closer to Throttle with curious eyes.

"We are talking about dying Vinnie Blue." He laughed "would you like to help mix the kool-aid?"

"What?" She laughed "No."

"It would be fun." Modo smiled getting into the truck. "And really hilarious!"

"I will not take part in that, no matter how much you beg me." She laughed "How about just his tail?"

Throttle started to laugh and looked back at Modo "he's dead... so dead."

Modo smiled and looked out the window 'And if Amy rejects me so am I.' he thought looking out the window at the darking sky.

to be continued when my Muse returns.