Here is something different. :P
I don't own Scar or Lex, though I might have fun at their expense.
"Isn't it over yet? It's been years since we got stuck in this limbo."
"We know, Antonio! You've been complaining half of that time."
"Seriously! How long does it take to finish one measly story?"
Lex sighed and sunk deeper into the comfortable couch she was trying to relax in. There was nothing new in the bickering of Antonio and Annie, but she still wished the author would've had the decency to at least write the rest of them some earplugs.
Just as she was about to take a sip from the cup of still hot tea she had made herself, a pair of large hands glided over her shoulders, startling her.
"That better not be Stealth this time", she grumbled under her breath, ready to chuck the hot water behind her.
"Why? What has he done now?"
Lex relaxed and smiled a bit at the ominous, but familiar voice. "Nothing you wouldn't do."
She heard a low growl, making her smile turn into a self-satisfied grin, which she hid in her teacup. Mentioning Stealth in any context was a guaranteed way to get Scar vexed.
"That's far from reassuring", the sizeable warrior stated disapprovingly, leaning closer and giving the woman's shoulders a gentle squeeze. "When there are so many things I would like to do to you."
Lex took another sip, this time trying to hide the blush that was rising to her face. Scar also knew exactly how to get under her skin.
"Where is he anyway?" she asked nonchalantly, trying to distract him. She could practically feel Antonio's stare piercing them from the other side of the spacious room.
"Probably out hunting Vincent", Scar wasn't deterred by her lack of reaction. He knew well she wasn't always as calm and composed as she wanted others to think.
"Again? I…" Lex quickly forgot what she was going to say as the strong fingers started working on the tense spots on her shoulders. She almost regretted teaching him how to do that.
It was Scar's turn to look smug, but before he could comment on the woman's sudden silence, their attention was stolen by an indignant scream.
"YOU!"
Lex frowned and turned to look at the black-haired man, thinking he was going to lecture them. Instead, she was surprised to see him yelling at a woman who had without a warning appeared into the middle of the room.
"Isn't that…" she muttered her thoughts aloud.
"The author", Scar finished her sentence, removing his hands from her shoulders.
Lex glanced back at the hunter, confused by the foreboding change in his voice. Then she remembered. The April fool's joke. Oh…
She placed her cup on the coffee table just in case and prepared to hear what was going on. Antonio wasn't as patient.
"Please tell me you've finally come to free us", he demanded angrily, flailing his arms in an almost comical manner as he spoke. "We've been stuck in this nuthouse for ages because of you!"
The woman they rarely saw gave an apologetic smile. "Yeeah, I know, I know. I'm really sorry about that."
"Saying you're sorry doesn't erase the things I've seen here", Antonio was just getting started. "Not to mention…ow, ow, ow, hey!"
Annie had walked up to the man and her quick fingers caught his ear in a tight pinch. "Hush! Grown-ups are talking now."
"Seriously?!" Antonio's pained protest was ignored as he was dragged away and sat down on a chair.
There was an expecting silence as everyone returned their attention to the author. She let her eyes travel around the room, looking at everyone, though only briefly at Scar. Lex checked to see that the hunter wasn't about to do anything rash.
"Well, almost everyone is here", the author began slowly. "So I guess I'll get straight to the point."
She seemed to ponder for a while how to say what she had to say, but finally decided to go with the old-school blurting it out. "I'm going to make a series of one-shots about you guys. Aside from the main story."
The announcement caused another silence to fall as everyone processed what it meant. Annie was the first to get suspicious. "What kind?"
"Umm… M-rated…"
"What!" Annie and Lex shouted in unison, knowing very well what that meant.
"Oh no…" Antonio groaned, preparing to be even more traumatized.
Scar was careful not to show any emotion, but in his mind he was suddenly very interested in what their author was planning.
"Eh, sorry?" she raised a quizzical brow, then flashed a lopsided grin. "But then again, you might just end up liking it more than you think."
"I know… I'm already liking… the sound of that."
Without anyone noticing, Stealth had entered the room and listened by the door. Now he came closer, passing by Annie and in the process giving her a shameless glance and a smirk that infuriated her to no end. "By all means… do continue."
Lex couldn't help, but notice that even the author tensed up as the unpredictable warrior approached her. Stealth took his time, walking around and studying the woman who controlled their fates. She crossed her arms defensively, but a small, amused smile was still visible on her face.
"You know, I did write you. Do you really think your antics are going to faze me?"
"Yes, you did… write me", Stealth admitted and stopped by the author's side, leaning closer to her level and lowering his voice. "But I wonder… if you made me… the way I am… because you yourself… take pleasure… in the things I do. Maybe you would like… to be the one… played with."
"Okayy…" there was an unmistakable blush on the author's face at that point, but she tried to brush it off. "We're… uh… getting a little sidetracked here. I still had something to say. I'm going to be writing some things I want…"
She paused for a moment when Antonio scoffed. "…and then I was thinking of asking if the readers have anything specific they want me to write."
"Well there's a great idea!" came Antonio's immediate response. "I'm sure nothing strange will come out of that."
"I'm… sure it's going to be fine", the author said not so reassuringly. "Besides, one-shots will be faster to write. At least it will give people something to read."
Suddenly she heard heavy footsteps coming her way. She looked back from Antonio and yelped as a large hand latched onto her shoulder.
"Scar…" Lex said warily from the sofa.
Scar waved his hand at her, dragging the reluctant woman with him towards the door. "We have things to discuss."
Nobody came to her aid and soon the author found herself outside, under the inscrutable gaze of the intimidating hunter. Still, she couldn't help, but think how the joke had been so worth it.
The silence dragged, though the author was pretty sure it was intentional. She was about to say something, anything, when Scar finally revealed what was on his mind.
"Are you going to include me and Lex?"
The author stared dumbfounded at the serious face of the warrior. "Wha… oh..."
She had to fight off a knowing smile. "Why, of course. You're the couple everyone's waiting to see get together."
There was no change in Scar's blank expression. "No jokes?"
"No jokes."
And with that, everything was forgiven. Scar walked back inside, unaware that the author had her fingers crossed behind her back.
Just in case. You never knew what might happen.
Well, that was stupid, but there you have it. I'll be writing one-shots here and it's going to be weird. You're welcome to share ideas. :)
