I do not own the Biker Mice From Mars.
Flightless Bird
While letting out a heavy sigh, Charley 'Charlene' Davidson tried to focus on her work, namely; getting this old Chevy back to work.
It wasn't a easy job.
Not that she cared. She liked challenges. Always has.
And while working, she could clear her head. And that wasn't a luxury.
Because a certain someone was terrorising her mind.
From the moment the mice had set foot on this planet, her life was radically changed. And she still wasn't sure whether to be grateful or to go out and kill Limburger herself, so they would leave. So she could go back to her old, quite boring life.
Not that she actually wanted them to leave. Not that she actually wanted to go back to her old life.
But it sure as hell would make things easier.
Wanting them to leave was nothing more but a run.
A run from her feelings which she tried so hard to ignore.
Her feelings which she tried so hard to understand.
But this was new.
She had never felt this way before. And she had no idea what to do with it.
Yeah, she was grateful. Even if the mice were messy, obnoxiously loud, typical male and always treating her as if she was made of glass, she was happy that they were here. Before this, her life had been lonely, actually. She hadn't really realized that, not until she suddenly had three furry friends to take care of.
Being lonely wasn't that bad as it always sounded, actually.
She had always been someone who was more to herself.
Most of the time, she liked being lonely.
No one who had certain expectations from you.
No one to worry about.
No one who could disappoint you.
Who could hurt you...
But at the same time, there was no one who believed in you.
No one who cared for you.
No one who would do everything to make you happy.
Who loved you...
It was now three years ago.
Three years since that day Greasepit had tried to take away her beloved garage, the one thing she had left from her family. From her father.
Three years since interplanetary heroes had saved her from losing the garage.
Something was changed. Something was different.
It all started a few months ago. It was as if it slowly crawled into her brain, into her body and most important; into her heart.
She couldn't really tell exactly when it all happened. And she wasn't sure what it was.
But it was there.
It made her brain making overtime, thinking about the main subject of this sudden change every day, every hour, every minute.
It made her insides twist and turn, mixed with tingles, like there were butterflies tickling against her abdomen.
It even made her clumsy sometimes, as if she had no control over her body and her brains just stopped working.
And it only happened when he was around.
He.
A certain white furred mouse.
Vincent.
Vinnie.
Since the moment she met him, he'd started flirting with her to never stop.
In return, she always playfully pushed him away. She wasn't sure why, it just happened.
It was some sort of game they played, without even knowing the meaning behind it.
But it was different now.
Three years was a long time to get to know someone.
To learn about their habits.
Their personality.
And she'd learned he wasn't just a flirtatious, walking ego.
There were these small moments that he lowered his walls and gave her a glimpse of the real Vinnie.
A glimpse inside his world. Inside his head.
Sweet. Caring. Loyal.
Insecure. Lovingly.
Trouble minded…
'Heavy are the words that go unspoken…'
There was so much more to him.
Maybe that was the moment when things had started to change. That moment when she realized he was so much more.
Maybe it had something to do with the fact that after being with them for three years, she wasn't really seeing them as aliens anymore. More as humans who happened to look slightly different than the rest.
Fur.
A tail.
Those cute buck teeth.
I mean, they weren't exactly unattractive, with their muscular bodies that made them look like greek gods.
Those abbs under that fur… white fur…
Argh!
Charley jerked upright, banging her head against the hood from the Chevy and she cursed loudly.
Typical. You were doing this to clear your head, Charlene, not to let yourself getting distracted.
Again.
She looked at the clock, seeing it was already past midnight. Nothing new. She worked most of the nights, only getting a few hours of sleep before she continued.
She didn't really have much of a choice, she needed the money to support herself and her furry family.
Besides, sleeping was outta the question since her brains were making overtime.
Honestly… What the hell was wrong with her?
While rubbing the sore spot on her head, she walked to the counter.
Coffee. She needed coffee.
Folding her hands around the warm mug, her thoughts already wandered off again.
So, yeah, things were definitely changed. And she wasn't sure if she was seeing ghosts, or that he was changed too.
But his flirting had become a little bit more… dirty.
His so called casual touches weren't that casual anymore.
The look on his face when he was watching her was different.
More intense.
And on top of it all, there was this tension. A attraction towards him.
The tension was like a field of electricity, sucking the oxygen outta the room, everytime he was near her.
That tension wanted to make her do things.
Like touching him.
Like sniffing up his scent when he was close to her.
Or kissing him...
So far, she didn't though.
Because there was that nagging feeling of insecurity.
What if she was indeed seeing ghosts?
What if she gave in to her needs, to the things that the tension was trying to make her do, and he would reject her?
Laugh at her?
What if he wasn't feeling the same way?
What if she ruined the one good thing they already shared, namely; a close friendship.
What if he would stop giving her the attention she so desperately needed?
He made her feel special.
She had never felt special.
She couldn't risk losing that.
Dammit. This was exhausting.
Trying to understand this feeling, this whole situation, cost her more energy than working day and night.
And she still needed to work, day and night.
Come to think of it; back to work, Charlene.
Hours past. Not that she noticed. She was finally able to focus on her job.
"Still working, huh sweetheart?"
Again, she hit her head against the hood.
"Jesus, Vinnie, scare me like that again and I'll tie your tail in knot! What the hell are you doing here anyway, it's in the middle of the night!", Charley snapped at him.
She didn't want to snap at him. But he somehow made her do that.
'Heavy is the hand that points the finger.'
Well, perhaps she made herself do it.
To keep him away. To keep distance between them.
Vinnie wandered past the counters, looking at the tools as if he was seeing them for the first time, and shrugged.
"Couldn't sleep."
Her eyes followed him when he came closer and she quickly turned around, focussing on the Chevy again.
Okay, let's be honest now, shall we?
She pretended to focus on the Chevy again.
Because it was clear that focussing on something else than that beautiful, white furred creature standing behind her was a no go.
Obviously.
"Need help with that?"
Charley looked over her shoulder and saw Vinnie leaning against the counter, his hands in his pockets.
"No, I've got this."
HA! Who was she trying to convince anyway?
"It doesn't look like you do…"
"If you only came by to tell me that I fail at my job, which I do at this point, then do us both a favor and get the hell outta here, will ya?"
Wauw. Very nice, Charlene. Way to go.
But Vinnie wasn't impressed. He was used to her bitchy way of communicating. As long as her ears didn't turn red, he was safe.
"Sweetheart, come on. There ain't nothing ya can't fix. I'm sure you'll figure it out."
I can't fix you.
It almost slipped past her lips. But luckily, she stopped herself in time.
Why did that pop up in her head anyway?
Another reason to keep him away?
Because she couldn't fix him?
Because he was damaged by the war and there was nothing she could do to make it better?
'Can't kill the pain, it's everything..
It's all you feel..
It's what you breathe..'
Dammit, this whole thing has suddenly become even more complicated than it already was.
He looked at her and she stared back. She couldn't turn her gaze away, she just couldn't.
Shit.
What was happening here? Why was he looking at her like that?
The intense look on his face, his burning eyes, let a shiver run down her spine. Her cheeks slowly became warm. Actually, her whole body became warm.
Correction; hot. She was on fire.
Oh dear...
Vinnie slowly pushed himself off the counter and walked over to her, almost lazy.
As if he was taking a stroll in the park. But his eyes were still burning.
Charley wanted to stop him, to turn around, to walk away, whatever... But it was as if she was glued to the floor.
He stopped in front of her.
"What did you just say?", he whispered.
Oh. Maybe she did say that out loud.
No way.
She did?
Oh god...
"I eh… I have no idea what you're talking about…", she stuttered.
"You think you can't fix me?"
His voice was lower than usual. The high pitched tones nowhere to be found.
"I didn't want to say that out loud, I'm sorry…", but he slowly lifted his hand and touched her cheek.
"You think I'm broken?"
She had no idea what to say. His touch, his soft fingers on her cheek, just turned her brains into water.
"I eh…", she started, but he was too close. She wasn't able to function when he was this close.
What the hell was wrong with her?
"Maybe this isn't such a good idea…", she finally managed to bring out. But she didn't move.
"Maybe not…", he mumbled, but he also didn't pull back.
No, he came even closer and gently cupped her head in his hands.
Charley's heart started to beat faster than it already did and she closed her eyes for a moment, enjoying his touch.
His soft and gentle touch.
She opened her eyes again. He stroked her greasy hair outta her face while looking at her. Looking at her with a intensity that almost made her legs weak.
Well, it actually did make her legs weak.
"My sweet Charlene…", he whispered while leaning forward.
She could feel his breathing against her burning lips.
She could almost count the small hairs on his nose.
She almost drowned in his eyes.
She felt one warm hand in her neck, the other in her hair.
She inhaled, sniffed up his scent. It was lovely. It gave her goosebumps.
And without thinking, she closed her eyes while closing the gap between them.
His lips made contact with hers and he kissed her.
So gentle. So tender.
So not Vinnie. But at the same time, very Vinnie.
It was if a bomb with butterflies exploded in her belly. And it suddenly hit her.
She finally knew.
She had finally figured out what this whole thing was...
It was love.
She was unconditionally and irrevocably in love with him.
'I've waited a hundred years..
But I'd wait a million more for you..
Nothing prepared me for..
What the privilege of being yours would do…'