Stay?
Disclaimer: I don't own Captain Planet or any of its characters and I'm not making any money from these fics.
Summary: What happens when you run out of bad guys to fight? Wheeler and Linka have to start thinking about their futures and how well they will fit in with Gaia's plans.
A/N: I've said before that I don't do prompts and challenges and I don't, but sometimes someone will say something that sparks off an idea and it has to be written… usually Becks7 since I talk to her more often than not, and this story is no exception, thanks for the inspiration Becks!
You could read this as a brief oneshot or hang on for the other two chapters. I'm often accused (by Becks) of choosing too high a subject matter rating for the content, but I like to make sure that it's appropriate so I'd rather it was higher than strictly necessary. By the time I'd finished writing it though I think this one had definitely strayed into the lower M boundaries so I will give you fair warning that this will be going up to M after this chapter, (nothing violent or disturbing,) but you can decide for yourselves.
Oh and in case anyone is wondering, I am still writing my other stories, they're just taking their time.
Chapter One
"The centre prepared by your countries on the east coast of America is very comprehensive, you will have an amazing amount of resources at your disposal." The Earth Spirit informed her Planeteers.
Kwame frowned. "Recycled resources I hope?"
Gaia laughed. "Of course. But I was referring to people, and the ability to get the right messages out at the right time, as well as the authority to make necessary changes for the sake of the planet… you won't be able to do everything of course, a lot of things will still need to go through the local governments, but you will be in a position to address the countries leaders and hopefully begin to make some real changes."
It was evident that she was excited about the prospect, and at least three of the others shared her enthusiasm, the other two were unusually quiet.
Linka at least was smiling but it didn't reach her eyes and she kept throwing surreptitious glances at the fire planeteer. The cause of her apparent unease was that he hadn't yet made any smartarse comments, in fact he was frowning, which was not at all typical of the carefree young man.
"I've asked Trystan, your liaison, to send you electronic copies of your initial schedules, you'll need to familiarize yourselves with them but I can show you here for now." The spirit waved her hand and a calendar of appointments, meetings, deadlines and presentations appeared on the planet vision, the planeteers names and the locations they were expected to be in, clearly displayed beside them.
The Russian's eyes opened a little wider. "Gaia… so much is already organised? I… I thought we would be making our own decisions about what we needed to do?"
"Eventually." Gaia nodded, "But we have to start somewhere. Trystan is very efficient, I'm sure you'll find him an excellent assistant."
Linka could almost see Wheeler's hackles rise and she knew it was jealousy, even though none of them had yet met the young man that was to help them get started in their new home, she could tell that his mind was working overtime… it still didn't prepare her for what he was about to say.
"No." All eyes turned to the red head and he shifted uncomfortably. "I'm sorry Gaia, but I can't do this. I get that we put all the eco-villains away and that our job is now going to be clean up and educating but… look I can do the clean up part but all this…" He gestured vaguely at the planet vision. "That's not me."
"I understand your concerns Wheeler but it's what must be done." Linka wished she could stop her, knowing instinctively that it was the wrong line to take with him, but things seemed to have slowed down and she couldn't get her words out before Gaia continued. "You'll be fine once you're there, and Trystan will help you."
Anger flashed in the fire planeteer's eyes like small flames, "We don't need Trystan, we're a team, we need to work together and not be sent off to different parts of the world where we'll never see each other again!"
"Don't be ridiculous Wheeler," the spirit was becoming exasperated with him and the wind planeteer's stomach began to turn over as she saw the situation heading for a train wreck. "If you'd looked at the schedule you would have seen that that's not the case at all. Aside from a few visits, you'll be doing most of the work at the centre itself. You're blowing this out of all proportion."
Gaia is partly right, but that schedule does mean that we will not be seeing much of each other, she does not understand… Linka thought sadly, trying not to think the thought that was screaming to be heard in the back of her mind. 'He and I will not be together for over a year!'
Wheeler was pointedly looking at no one but Gaia, but he had paused long enough for them to step in before answering her, and as no one offered an opinion either way, his anger just seemed to grow. "I HAVE LOOKED AT IT! I'm not a paper pusher Gaia! If that's what you want, get yourself another Planeteer! Trystan will probably jump at the chance! You know what… I'm outta here!"
The ancient spirit shook her head as he stormed out of the crystal chamber. "I was afraid he wouldn't like the change in your duties but I admit I underestimated his reaction."
"You are not going to let him leave us, are you?" Ma-Ti was no longer a child but his power made him vulnerable to the other's emotions and he was visibly shaking.
Gaia shook her head sadly as Gi put a comforting arm around the young man's shoulders. "I can't make him stay Ma-Ti. I will try to convince him of course but if he won't change his mind all I can do is ask him to keep his ring so that we can call Captain Planet if he's needed."
Linka swallowed a lump in her throat and forced herself to speak. "You cannot replace him Gaia." There was something final about the way she said it, it wasn't an order, more a statement of fact, Wheeler was not replaceable. "Let me talk to him… perhaps I can find a compromise? Please?"
There was more comprehension in Gaia's eyes than the lovely Russian found comfortable and her words made Linka wonder what exactly she was talking about. "Do what you need to. I'll support whatever you decide between you."
With a faint blush to her cheeks and avoiding the smiling gazes of the others, Linka thanked her and quickly followed their friend.
Wheeler was sitting on the edge of his bed with his head in his hands when Linka entered but at the sound of his door opening he leapt up and began stuffing the carry-all he'd gotten out, with clothes. "I thought you were into manners, what happened to knocking?"
He didn't look at her.
"I did not want you to tell me to go away." She said quietly.
Wheeler sighed and leant on the top of his chest of drawers. "There's nothing to say Linka, you made that clear back in the Crystal Chamber. I was on my own in there and I guess I can just get used to that again… or maybe I've always been on my own here, it's not like I ever really fit in."
"Wheeler, what are you talking about?" The Russian exclaimed in alarm. "You are as much a part of the Planeteers as the rest of us and you cannot leave!"
The handsome American turned to look at her, shaking his head and sounding more serious than she had ever heard him before. "There was a time when that was true, no one else could use my ring so you needed me, but that's over with. Anyone can do the job Gaia was talking about in there and there's a lot of people who could do it better than me."
She shook her head. "That is not true, and I can help you, I…"
"You won't be there!" Wheeler struggled to keep his temper in check but she could tell it wasn't her he was angry with. "Don't you get it Babe? I can't do it! Did you see that schedule? Lectures about conservation, facts, figures… I don't know any of that shit, I'd just make you all look bad! Better to let someone else do it."
He returned to his packing and Linka tried to ignore the terrible ache in her heart as she struggled to keep from crying. "I could be there, we can change the schedule and…"
"What is this Babe?" The look of suspicion hurt almost as much as his words. "Did Gaia send you to negotiate with me? Just what did she tell you to offer me?"
Linka stepped back as if he'd slapped her. "I am not offering you anything! And if that is what you think then… it is good that we will never see each other again!"
She finished on an involuntary sob and turned away so that he would not see the tears that sprang to her eyes as she made for the door.
Wheeler's hand caught her wrist stopping her in her tracks. "I didn't mean that."
Linka couldn't look at him and she definitely wasn't capable of answering him. She had gone there, knowing without really acknowledging it, that she was prepared to go with him if it was the only way to keep him in her life, but after what he'd said it was all she could do not to rip her arm away and run back to her own room to pack, in order to put even more distance between them.
His voice was thick with emotion as he continued. "I didn't, I swear! I know you better than that, I'm just mad that it's going to end like this."
"You are the one who is ending things." She whispered, still not turning around. "Da, Gaia agreed that I could change the schedule if it would convince you to stay but she was trying to help, not manipulate you, and I would never agree to… to…"
Wheeler grimaced. "I know."
Turning her head just far enough to look at the hand that was still gripping her, "She said we could alter things to suit us better… if we wanted to..."
The American swallowed and he couldn't prevent the small grain of hope from registering in his voice. "We?" She nodded and he released her wrist, but only to gently but firmly, turn her to face him, his hands resting on her shoulders.
Linka's eyes were still shinning with tears. "Stay? For me?"
Wheeler lowered his eyes, hating himself for what he was about to say but feeling too guilty to do otherwise. "I can't make Gaia change everything just because I can't keep up… not even to be with you. I'm selfish but I'm not that selfish."
The Russian knew that he was right but that didn't stop her feeling like the world was coming to an end and she cursed herself for all the time she'd lost when they could have been together, but she'd never really thought there would be a time when he wasn't there.
"Then I will go back to Russia and do what Gaia thinks needs to be done there." She wasn't trying to make him feel bad, she was just showing him that she would abide by his decision, and it was also her way of saying goodbye… though she couldn't stop herself adding, "I would not feel right being in America without you."
They stood there not looking at each other, everything decided, knowing that when they parted they wouldn't meet again because neither of them would be able to face it.
"You will need to let me go." She was referring to his hands that were still clasping her shoulders but it had the effect that her earlier words hadn't.
Wheeler pulled his beautiful friend into his arms and buried his face in her neck. "I can't."
Linka sobbed with relief and slid her arms around his waist to hold him tightly against her.
"I don't know what to do." He told her. "I'm never going to be able to do what she wants me to, but I'll go crazy if I can't see you, and that schedule…"
"Is going to change." Linka cut in confidently, making him laugh though it was his own relief showing. "I hated it the moment I saw it and now I am not going to let you out of my sight!"
He pulled away just enough to look into her eyes, "Promise?"
"Fact!" The Wind Planeteer said it so fiercely that it made Wheeler laugh, finally forcing him to relax.
Her answering smile made his breath catch in his throat and he gazed at her in wonder as he finally began to realise the depth of the feelings she hid behind that cool exterior. Taking a chance, the American brought his lips down to rest against Linka's, gently teasing her as he asked, "So how's this 'not letting me out of your sight' going to work?"
"Hmmm," she hummed softly, her senses on overdrive, and answered distractedly. "I do not know… just, hold on and not let go I guess…"
He pressed a brief kiss to her mouth as if testing the water. "And then what?"
"What?" Linka was having a lot of trouble thinking clearly and she took another little kiss before adding, "I do not know what you mean, we will remain together, nyet?"
Wheeler was also struggling to concentrate on anything but the softness of her lips and the way she felt in his arms but he managed to say. "We will remain together, da."
The wind planeteer couldn't have said more if she'd wanted to, since her lips were suddenly locked in a passionate embrace, but she had no desire to escape.
Wheeler slipped his arms under hers and picked her up to lessen the difference in height, while Linka wrapped her arms around his neck, her lips parting in a silent request for him to deepen the kiss. He didn't disappoint her.
After a while they had to stop to catch their breaths but it still felt impossible to let go, in fact they couldn't hold each other any closer without removing clothes. Linka nuzzled her face into his neck and Wheeler continued to press kisses against hers. It wasn't just the present situation of course, they'd been waiting to share their feelings for a long time and the sudden release of emotions was overwhelming.
Eventually Wheeler, his lips still resting against her skin, asked, "What were we saying?"
A bubble of laughter escaped her lips. "We were going to alter Gaia's schedule into something more practical." She pulled away but linked her fingers firmly with his. "We can look at it on my laptop, it is in my room."
"Okay." The American let her lead him to her room and sat down next to her on the bed, thinking as he did so that she could lead him anywhere and he'd follow gladly.
Linka opened her computer and called up the schedule, and Wheeler tucked a comforting arm around her. "This is going to take a while…"