The Joy of Text
Disclaimer: I make no money from these fics and recognise the sole rights of the original creators to do so.
Summary: Fluffy plot bunny with a modern take… Wheeler & Linka of course
A/N: Hi all, thanks for bearing with me… I haven't forgotten the Christmas fic but it's taking longer than planned and well, RL is getting in the way as usual. I'm half way through reading some great fics too (you know the ones I mean), I will get back to them soon, I promise!
Thanks to Nina for your reviews, it won't let me reply to a guest but I appreciate your taking the time to write to me.
p.s the lack of punctuation in Wheeler's messages are deliberate ;)
Chapter 1
Linka's new phone beeped announcing the arrival of a text and her heart leapt, her eyes sparkling with excitement, making her cousins laugh.
"Trust the Nerd Queen to react like that to a new toy," Olga snorted derisively.
Zoya nodded and sipped her wine, "You are in serious need of a man."
Linka rolled her eyes and read the message, trying not smile too widely and betray herself. It wasn't the mobile phone that made her happy, but the sender.
[Whats black and white and red all over?]
"Who is it from?" Renata, the youngest of the sisters asked quietly.
"Just one of the other Planeteers, I am not the only one who is enjoying the novelty of a hi-tech gadget." Linka told her, "Fortunately, the International Environmental Agency arranged for unlimited texts."
She quickly typed out a reply. [A penguin with sunburn. You need some new material Yankee.]
"Are you actually seeing anyone?" Zoya asked the Planeteer, and then mimed typing on a keyboard, "or did you write your own?"
[The classics are the best! How's the bachelorette party?]
Linka sighed and responded to both, "I do not have time to date if that is what you mean."
[So much fun I am laughing at your jokes.]
"Leave her alone." The bride said impatiently, "Let's talk about my man instead, that's what you're here for after all."
[Ouch, and there I was hoping you were missing me!]
It was Renata's turn to laugh, "We already know everything there is to know about Erik. You should really tell him not to walk around naked when we're staying."
Zoya grinned, "Don't you dare, it's his one tolerable bad habit!"
"He doesn't have any bad habits!" Olga protested causing further laughter. "Ok so he leaves his clothes on the floor, that's not that bad."
[Babe? Youre supposed to say, of course I miss you Yankee!]
"And leaves the seat up." Renata put in.
"All guys leave the seat up!"
Her eldest sister raised an eyebrow, "They don't all use the wardrobe when they're too drunk to tell the difference."
Linka was horrified as her cousin waved it away, saying he'd bought her new clothes, and she typed out another text.
[Have you ever pee'd in your closet?]
[Huh? Did you mean to send that to me?]
[Da]
"Besides, you told me Boris and Vasily had a competition to see who could make it go the furthest down your stairs!" Olga continued.
"They are five years old," their fond mother responded, "they will have time to grow out of it before anyone considers marrying them."
[Then no, I haven't. Are you drinking?]
Linka glanced at the full glass of wine she'd been ignoring.
[Nyet, they are comparing stories. I just wondered if it was common.]
[My dad made a mess of the bathroom on a few occasions, but that was just bad aim]
The Russian Planeteer laughed and once more drew the others' attention. She told them Wheeler's earlier joke rather than explain her conversation and got more pitying looks.
"So are you looking forward to the honeymoon?" Zoya asked, trying to get the conversation back on track.
Olga shrugged, "We could not afford much, just a few nights away in Minsk. We have tickets to see a performance of Les Miserables though."
Just young enough to still be called a teenager, though she was officially an adult, Renata sighed, "When I go on my honeymoon I don't want the most exciting thing about it to be a play."
[What is your idea of a romantic honeymoon?]
[You proposing?]
A smile curled the corner of Linka's lips.
[You would run a mile]
[I might surprise you]
[Then answer the question]
"Then do not live with them first," Zoya recommended, "It destroys all the magic."
"I wouldn't say that." Olga shifted uncomfortably, "Erik knew I really wanted to see the show so he booked it as a surprise, it doesn't mean I plan to spend the whole time sightseeing."
[Mountains] she looked puzzled for a moment but then a second text came through and her expression warmed, [Breath-taking views, lots of privacy and cold enough to snuggle]
"What about you Linka?" The Planeteer looked up from her phone with a start and her cousin sighed before repeating her question, "Your honeymoon; action packed itinerary or permanently locked door?"
Linka blushed and picked up her glass to take a sip before answering, "Something between the two? Somewhere with nice scenery where we can go for walks, but without a lot of people to care what we do."
The other women acknowledged that as a good option, while Linka's imagination tempted her with snow covered peaks.
"Well if he looked like Erik, I'd be wanting to spend all my time in the hotel." Renata persisted, then turning to her cousin and making her blush, "It's a shame you arrived so late, you really missed out."
[Do you ever walk around naked when we are not there?]
[All the time]
"Perhaps it is not Linka that needs the boyfriend!" Olga glared at her, not noticing that the Planeteer's cheeks had suddenly gone a much deeper red. "He is going to be your brother."
"If you want me to think of him as a brother, stop him putting on a show," Renata replied tartily, "Besides I have a boyfriend, it's just not going there."
Zoya refilled their glasses, "Ever? Then why bother going out with him?"
Her sister shrugged, "Better than being single and stuck at home, or the third wheel on a night out when all my friends are in couples."
"Is it?" Linka asked sceptically, "I am not sure I could do that, to me dates are about getting to know someone to see if you're compatible. If you already know you are not…"
"When was the last time you went on a date exactly?" Zoya asked, apparently switching sides.
The Wind Planeteer's phone beeped again but she didn't dare look at it. Instead she took another mouthful of her drink and swallowed hard. "About three weeks ago. Gi set up a double date… we were not compatible so it was not repeated."
She didn't add that her friend had sprung it on her as a surprise, not leaving her room to refuse without causing a scene, or that the row that had resulted with Wheeler - though ostensibly about her habit of tidying anything left around - had lasted a week.
Linka hated the hollow feeling that came with having her American friend angry with her, even if he technically had no right to be jealous. She glanced at her screen.
[You know I was joking right?]
[Shame]
[You want pictures?]
She choked on her wine and made haste to reply, [NYET!]
[Private demonstration then?]
"What is going on over there," Olga asked, finally catching on. "Who did you say you were texting?"
"Just one of the others, they are being stupid." She shrugged, "I will ignore them."
Zoya looked at her, "One of the others, but not Gi or you would have said, so one of the boys? There are boys, right?"
Linka hid in her glass, not denying the charge.
Renata grinned, "I think she's holding out on us."
Her eldest sister grinned, "I think you're right."
"Is he as hot as Erik?" Olga teased.
Linka laughed just as she received another message.
[Are you thinking about it?]
[My cousins want to know what you look like, send me a photo but KEEP IT CLEAN!]
When the image arrived a few moments later she laughed again and rolled her eyes. His selfie was technically clean, if you didn't count a very well defined bare chest and a confident expression. She saved it before turning the phone over to her family.
"If he's really not your boyfriend, can I have him?" Renata asked.
"Not bad," Olga admitted, "But Erik still beats him."
Linka shook her head, "You have to say that, and no he is not available."
"Meaning he isn't single or you have first refusal?" Zoya enquired with a knowing expression.
Suddenly hating just how many times she had refused him, Linka replied that they were just friends.
"He doesn't seem to think so, not based on the messages he was sending you!"
Linka exclaimed and wrested her phone back from Renata, "You were not supposed to read that!"
Her cousin laughed, "No kidding. You'd better answer him, I know, send him a picture of me and ask if he's interested?"
"I will send a picture of all of you if you will pose?" she suggested and they dutifully moved closer together and held up their glasses in a silent toast.
[Renata was drooling, Olga is being loyal to her bridegroom and Zoya is going to give me a hard time]
[Was their cousin drooling too?]
[Mishka is not here]
[Haha would it hurt you to say something nice?]
[Your ego does not need any more encouragement. I have to go, or will not hear the end of it. I will text you later.]
To be continued...