Author's Note

This short story idea is credited to Brave Kid :). Thanks for the challenge and for me, this has been such a challenge because the couple in this fic, I have never pictured as a couple.

Also, for the purpose of the story, I have made Nosedive nineteen years old and this is way it is slightly A/U. I have never seen Nosedive as nineteen but for me, he had to be nineteen for the story to work.

Okay, the author's note is over and now, on with the story! Hope you all enjoy :).

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The Morning Before Lucretia Decoy Arrives ...

Tanya blinked in surprise at the shots being fired in the shooting range. It wasn't like shots being fired in a shooting range was anything out of the ordinary. It was the packet of insults that went along with every loud bang that could be heard outside the door of the gallery.

'Son of a Saurian!'

BANG!

'Inconsiderate, little twerp!'

BANG!

'Horrible … horrible … duck!' The last word was spat like it was the worst insult a person could ever think of.

BANG! BANG! BANG!

Already recognizing the voice, Tanya decided to have a word with the duck despite her better judgement. There would be plenty of time for Electric Land later. In the meantime, if this duck wasn't calmed somewhat, Tanya wouldn't put it past the person to go after whoever it was that had caused the duck such a bad mood.

Easing the door open and cringing slightly at the ear-splitting shots that accompanied the equally as ear-splitting screams, Tanya just managed to speak rather than run in the other direction.

'U-uh, h-hi, Mallory,' she stuttered, trying to smile but all that came was a timid gaze.

Red hair dishevelled, brushing down into her eyes, Mallory's stance stiffened more though Tanya didn't think it possible. However, the shorter duck relaxed when she glanced over to see the scientist in the doorway. Tanya could see her visibly breath a sigh of relief.

'Oh,' she said nonchalantly. 'Hi, Tanya.'

Without another word, she cocked her gun and fired again.

Eyes naturally drawn to where the pucks were being launched, Tanya blinked, doing a double-take.

Nope. She'd seen right the first time.

There, taped right in the middle of the target becoming the new bull's eye, was a picture of Nosedive. Or, more correctly, used to be a picture of Nosedive. All that was left was a strip of his hair which made Tanya recognize who the photo was of. No one else had hair like that boy.

'Umm …' Tanya glanced back at the red-head, who was now reloading her puck launcher. 'Nosedive prank you again?'

At the mention of his name, Mallory's brown eyes became viciously hard. 'Get out!'

Unlike most people, Tanya was never one who had to be told twice. She turned and fled, slamming the door shut behind her. She kept running all the way to the elevator, unknowing she was about to meet with an old enemy that would endanger their whole operation.

Mallory's shoulders slumped as soon as Tanya left. She felt weak, so weak. Her body was so toned, able to take the most brutal of workouts. Too bad her heart wasn't as fit.

She suddenly found herself on her knees. 'I wish that was all he'd done to me,' she whispered.

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The Night Lucretia Decoy is defeated …

Mallory glanced at her watch and internally growled. Tonight was not a good night to be late. Two minutes was left until eight o'clock though so there was still time. Slim but still.

She went to tap her fingers impatiently on the candle-lit table but thought better of it. She hated it when other people did it so she didn't want to become the same annoyance. But, her fingers had to do something.

Snatching up her glass, she occupied herself in making sure her hair was smoothed back to perfection. What the hell? Why was she preening herself? What if he caught her doing that? Oh, hell no!

She slammed down the cup harder than she intended, succeeding in making the ice-cold water splash all over her mini-red dress. This time, she growled vocally.

'I should have known tonight would be like this,' she spat.

'Need a napkin?'

She jumped at the unexpected voice and just managed to stem a gasp. However, the gasp happened but this time, it was from delighted shock rather than a fright.

Standing before her, in a midnight black suit, complete with a soft maroon tie and white shirt underneath the jacket hanging loose, was Nosedive. His usually rowdy hair was captured in a ponytail, even his two bangs, which made his large eyes appear even larger again. The only thing that was missing was his trademark cocky grin. Instead, it was replaced with an apologetic smile which Mallory couldn't question the genuineness of.

'I … I can't believe you wore the suit I bought you,' she said softly, beak slightly open as her eyes trailed him up and down, still unable to believe what she was seeing.

His smile grew slightly sadder. 'Kinda figured it was the least I could do after … well … you know.'

At the mention of the subject, she sat up straight and rearranged her features, ignoring the napkin he'd been offering her, instead, grabbing her own. She concentrated in wiping down her attire, doing her best to avoid eye contact with him in case his expression made her regret her iciness.

She heard him sigh then the chair scrape back as he sat down.

'Should've seen that one coming, huh?' There was humour there but she could tell by the lacklustre in his tone, how much he regretted his actions.

'Guess you should have,' she muttered.

As her eyes darted everywhere but him, she spotted the menu. A smug grin contorted onto her beak as she remembered her previous plan.

With one last swipe of her dress, she pushed it towards him. 'Oh, by the way, I'm ordering menu item number 3.'

His eyebrows rose slightly as he snatched up the menu. Scanning it within seconds, Mallory watched in shock as Nosedive's eyes brightened with amusement and a burst of good-natured laughter erupted from him.

'Oh, I should've seen that one coming too,' he chuckled, smiling at her. 'The most expensive item on the menu!' He winked at her. 'Nice one. And you reckon I'm the prank master.'

She looked away in attempt to hide the smile that spontaneously responded to his wink but it was too late. He'd seen it.

'Ah, so you don't completely hate me.' The eighteen-year-old leaned back in his chair, crossing his right ankle over his left knee, raising his water to his beak, eyes cheekily looking over the rim at her.

She mock glared at him. 'Don't be so sure.'

His eyebrows rose again and she could tell he was slightly perturbed at her retort. 'I could say some stuff in my defence but I'll think I'll save that for another night.'

'Good call.' She gave a satisfied nod, suddenly wanting to change the subject after his last sentence. When Nosedive wasn't joking, she knew he had good points that he was passionate about making but right now, she didn't want to hear them. Tonight, she just wanted to be spoilt, content to think that Nosedive had done all the wrong by flirting with Lucretia, and enjoy the eye candy of her long-time boyfriend in a suit. Besides, she had a suspicion on what his defence was and she didn't even want to go there.

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Hope you all like it. Sorry Stranger has been greatly neglected of late but I just haven't had the inspiration for it. Hopefully, this will be quicker. There will be a large gap in between the posting of this chapter and the next chapter because I am going on holidays for three weeks! See you all when I get back :D.