A Day Out
Airbase Mess Hall
"Hey, you sent your plane back for maintenance?"
"Yeah, I handed it over to that chick yesterday who works in the farthest hangar."
"Mead? The Scrap Queen? Aw man, you got a good look at her?"
"Hell yeah, I did. She's got a big rack, dude. Like, she's huge."
"Lucky bastard.."
"You right I'm a lucky bastard. She's thicker than a bowl of oatmeal."
"Don't let her hear you say that. I've heard she's got a nasty left hook from some other guys and girls around here. That and she's got a good arm, she can turn a wrench into a makeshift lethal throwable weapon with her aim."
Trigger listened in disbelief at the conversation. He was sitting at a table with his back to the younger rookies at the table behind him.
"Ain't that right, Trigger?"
"Uh, what?" Trigger looked behind him.
"About the Scrap Queen. She threw a wrench at your head once, right? That time you told us when you brought your plane back shitting sand out its exhaust and she got really angry at that." The two recruits were looking at him.
"Oh that time." Trigger chuckled nervously as he recalled the memory. She had looked all dumbfounded with her mouth hanging open when he blasted the canopy open after landing and stupidly waved at her with fear rising in his throat. Next thing he knew, a wrench connected with the side of his helmet, he yelped and ducked into the cockpit again while she started shouting about what he'd done to the plane she worked so hard on with a few "dumbass" thrown in there as well.
"Yeah, just try not to annoy her, y'know? And being a good pilot means taking good care of your plane too." Was Trigger's answer.
"She could take good care of me, eh?" The rookie said to his friend after they went back to their own talk.
"Yeah, yeah, she hears you say that, the doctor's gonna have to take care of you instead."
Trigger sighed and went back to finishing his breakfast as Count and Húxian came up and sat down across him.
"Morning, Bigshot." Count grinned at him.
"Hey, someone's looking chipper." Trigger looked up at them. "How are ya, Hux."
"I am well, Trigger." Húxian replied back before Count cut her off.
"Hey, Base CO's given us a day off today! Nothing new happening around either after your splendid job at ending the war along with us. What do you say we head out, do some civilian things?" Count asked with his mouth full of bacon as Húxian sat next to him a little annoyed.
"Sure, I guess." Trigger answered before the words "day off" reminded him of something.
"Dumbass, I spent my whole time cooped up in here fixing this thing. And here I was looking forward to a day off..."
"Hey, you know what? That's a great idea. Let's get Avril in on this as well, what do you think?" Trigger asked them both.
"Hey, fine by me, let's go ask her then."
"Yes, it would do her good to leave the hangar and relax."
"Alright, come on Count!" Trigger grabbed Count and dragged him away from the table, almost spilling the coffee he was gulping down.
"OK, OK Hold on man! There's no hurry!"
Outside
"Well someone's excited." Count observed Trigger who was walking faster than him.
"Oh! Well, you see, um, she's got a new part she just built and wants me to check it out for her too. That and asking her whether she wants to come around, too."
"Is that so? Can I have one too?"
"I don't know, maybe you should ask her? I highly doubt she'd have more than one too."
"Man, how come she builds you all the cool shit..." Count grumbled.
Trigger just simply chuckled at his friend as they came up the hangar where Avril was. Both of them entered the dimly lit building where another plane was in the space.
"So where is she?" Count asked.
"HEY AVRIL, YOU HERE?" Trigger yelled.
Metal clanging on the ground suddenly resonated within the hangar along with rustling from behind a few crates and portable tool shelves. Both of them heard an annoyed "fuck!" followed by a "goddamnit!" gasped in a loud voice.
Trigger and Count both looked at each other before walking towards the source of the noise.
"Hey, Avril. You OK?" Trigger started before she suddenly popped out from behind the boxes with a wrench in one hand and a crowbar in the other. Her short dark brown hair looked more messier than usual and fell down more over her slightly red face. Her pants looked lopsided as one end of them was slightly pulled down more than the other and her tank top was wet with sweat which made it stick even more to her toned frame and made her chest size all the more apparent.
"Jesus Avril, what were you doing? You look like a fuckin' mess." Trigger said as he stared at her. "Well those rookies weren't kidding when they said she had a big rack." He thought to himself before suddenly stopping.
"Nothing, just trying to, do something. Also, hey." She panted as she finally looked up and her hazel eyes locked with Trigger's. She flashed him a brief smile before her vision registered Count standing behind him. "Oh, you decided to visit as well."
Yup! Busy building another one of those custom parts for Trigger?" Count asked her.
"Uh, what..?" Avril looked at Trigger. He raised his eyebrows at Count and mouthed something which sounded something like, "Just play along with it." to her.
"Oh! Right, I got something new in the works, sure." She answered a little too quickly.
"Why does he get all the cool stuff..." Count grumbled again, oblivious to Avril glaring at Trigger while he stood there awkwardly.
"Well, anyways we got a day off today, Base CO's in a good mood. We're heading out to do civilian shit and Trigger wanted to ask you to tag along as well. You in?" Count explained.
"Is that so?" Avril asked in a low voice and keeping her gaze on Trigger who just smiled sheepishly. "Alright, I'm in."
"Sweet, I'll go see whether Hux is done eating and then see who else I can bother to come with us. And don't forget to clean up, Avril! Both of you meet us at the front gates!" Count yelled out as he jogged out of the hangar.
"Sure thing!" Trigger yelled at his retreating back before turning back forward to look at the woman in front of him.
Both of them just looked at each other for a full minute before Avril broke the silence.
"New parts? Dumbass, if you wanted to visit me then you didn't have to lie about it. Or did you not have a good enough excuse like the "thanking me" one yesterday?" She grinned at him before laughing.
Trigger sighed as she laughed at him. "Yeah, yeah whatever..."
She stopped laughing and looked at him again. "So, day off huh?"
"Yeah, I also remembered that I sort of ruined your day off yesterday, so this can be considered a way of making you up to you."
"You did take me a joyride yesterday as well... but OK."
"Well you should go clean up and get ready, Avie."
"Avie?! Oh no, that's not sticking." She rolled her eyes and turned away from him.
Trigger laughed and walked up behind her and lightly clapped her back. "Oh it sure as hell is stickin', Scrap Queen." He then pulled his hand away and looked at it coated in a slight sheen of sweat. "And you should really go clean up. You look like hell and you stink."
"Now that ain't nice thing to say to a woman, dumbass." She pushed him back playfully. "Now go, I'll pack up and hit the showers and join you all."
"Alright, don't be late, Avie!" He gently reached around and rubbed her arm before moving away somewhat reluctantly and heading towards the hangar door.
Avril watched him leave with a smile on her face before she shook her head at the nickname and stood up straight. She looked down and frowned at her pants before adjusting them straight again. Avril then thanked her stars muttering, "Thank God I heard him yell." She reached at her tank top's straps and pulled it away to air herself out and grimaced.
"Whew. I need a cold one."
A few hours later
"What's taking her so long?" Count paced back and forth in the humvee.
"Relax, she'll come around. She's just got a lot to clean up." Trigger answered with his eyes closed sitting beside him.
"Yeah, yeah always busy making you all the cool shit while the rest of us boys (he gestured towards Húxian) and gal get the normal repairs and whatnot."
"What is th-" Trigger started before Húxian cut him off.
"Speak of the Queen, she's here. Thank the lord." Húxian muttered, grateful she showed up before she had to listen to Count and Trigger argue again.
Avril walked up to the humvee, opened the back door and got in beside Húxian. "How are ya boys, hey Fox."
"Well, someone's dressed to impress! Who's the lucky guy?" Count complimented her casual attire which consisted of a simple low cut jacket which showed off her stomach as usual and tight jeans, while Trigger shifted uncomfortably beside him, something that went by unnoticed.
"Sure as hell ain't you, now drive please." Avril fired back jokingly while Húxian showed a slight smile at this.
"You all love to pick on me, don't you." Count said in a mock crying voice as the humvee exited the gates while the rest of them laughed at his expense.
"So where are we headed?" Count asked them.
"I thought you knew where you were gonna take us."
"No, I didn't plan this out beforehand."
"You brought us along and you didn't make preparations for where to go?"
"Oh my god, you're a fuckin' idiot."
"Hey, I just didn't think this one through completely, that's all!"
"Just like everything you do?"
"Dumbass."
"Guys. Please." Count muttered as the rest of them jokingly berated him with smiles on their faces.
"Let's just roam around a bit, maybe we'll come across a nice place to eat or a bar somewhere nearby."
The vehicle fell in silence for a few minutes before Avril spoke up.
"Oh right, Trigger. I got an upgraded version of the Custom for you in the works. Think you could give it a try anytime soon once I'm done?"
"Oh you do? I mean, of course you do. Sure thing, always happy to try out new parts." Trigger grinned at her while also remembering the small lie.
"I didn't forget you two either. I've buffed up both your Eagles, and the squadrons' as well."
"Hey, thanks!" Count said.
"Sounds promising." Was Húxian's straightforward answer.
"So, are we also gonna get some custom parts for ourselves, too?" Count asked hopefully.
"Hah, no. I can only work for so long on these. And Trigger deserves them."
"Lucky bastard. Getting all the exclusivity. You've become her favourite, Bigshot..." Count grumbled as they came up to a bar. "Hey, this looks like a good enough spot, what do you all think?"
Everyone agreed as Count parked the humvee in the empty parking spot.
"Alright, let's enjoy ourselves you three." Count exclaimed as he stepped out of the vehicle.
"Not too much. We do need to head back as well." Húxian said.
"Man, you're boring." Count started before stopping himself as Húxian gave him a look that said "if you know what's good for you, shut it."
"Alright, alright let's just go in." Count laughed it off nervously and opening the door for Húxian to enter. Trigger followed suit before he got cut off by Avril who winked at him on the way in and muttered, "Ladies first, dumbass."
They found themselves a table and sat down, Trigger and Avril on one side and Count and Húxian on the other.
After a few minutes of ordering, enjoying the meal and usual small talk, Count finally spoke up.
"Finally, some good drinks and snacks." He smiled as he raised his glass. "You know, it's been a while since we've had some fun ever since all that is over."
"Yeah well, it takes time to rebuild and bring things back to normal after you move on from it. Especially the people we lost along the way." Húxian said.
All four of them looked solemn at that as they remembered the friends they've made and lost.
Count shook his head, and softly grinned. "Guys, they wouldn't want us to mope around since they gave their lives for this. Especially Wiseman..." His smile faltered at this before he regained his composure and looked at everyone. "For all them." He raised his glass as the three of them did the same in a toast.
Count then showed an even bigger smile as he said. "And of course, our Osean Bigshot. For putting an end to this."
Trigger grinned sheepishly as he raised his glass in unison as well.
"To Trigger."
"To Trigger."
"To Trigger, for being the best hot headed dumbass."
All of them chuckled at Avril's interpretation of him. "You can't deny it, it's true bigshot." She said as she brought the glass down to her lips and drank from it while giving him a sideways glance.
"Yeah, yeah I know, I'm the dumbass, but I'm the dumbass who ended the war." Trigger puffed his chest out.
"Don't push it, you're still a dumbass."
And just like that, Trigger deflated as the three of them laughed at his expense this time. "Well, I did have you all by my side, I wasn't alone in this, like Mr.X was. So thank you for all that." Everyone raised their glasses with him and clinked them for another toast.
An hour later
All four of them walked out the pub doors into the afternoon, Trigger and Avril stumbling under the streetlamp with the former holding his stomach.
"Oh shit, it was a bad idea to have a few too many drinks." He said, lightheaded.
"Goddamn, at least it tasted better than that garbage they served at the penal base." Avril coughed.
"Good God, you two. Couldn't the drinking match have not happened at all, espeically this early in the day?" Count asked as Hùxian looked at the two of them doubled over in amusement before opening the back door and grabbing two bottles of water and handing it to each of them.
"Here, drink up. Both of you aren't completely shitfaced so it'll wear off, and you won't have a hangover in the morning."
"We haven't had a good drink in a long while, so excuse us of we were a little too hasty. Thanks, Fox." Avril accepted the bottle gratefully while Trigger just snatched it and unscrewed the cap and started drinking.
"I call shotgun." Húxian said as she took Avril's arm and helped her into the backseat as Trigger hastily opened the door and threw himself into the other seat beside her. He felt his head drop onto her shoulder. Avril muttered something about "dumbass" before her eyelids started to flutter.
"These two..." Húxian started before Count butted in. "Let's drive around for a bit, take in the sights while the effect wears off these two. What do you think?"
"We still have some daylight to burn, very well. They'll be fine once we get back, right?" Húxian said as she got into the front seat as Count started the ignition.
"Relax, they'll be alright." Count chuckled as he looked back at them; Trigger had already started snoring.
"Now that's just annoying. We can go to one of those outdoor restaurants and eat outside the humvee, that way we can keep an eye on these two as well."
"Sounds like a plan, there's an OFC joint somewhere nearby. We can go there."
"Then let's get going."
Another few hours later, that the author got irritated that he had to write another one of these bold time skips for your readers
"Hey, Trigger. Wake up."
Trigger groaned as he opened his eyes. He yawned as he lifted his head off Avril's shoulder just as she started stirring. Stretching his arms, he turned to the source of the noise outside his window.
"Had a nice nap, Bigshot?" Count's face grinned at him.
"It was going well. Till I woke up and looked at you." Trigger muttered as he opened the door and stepped out. He stretched again. "Man at least there's no severe hangover."
"Amen to that." The short haired tomboy said to him as she stepped out of the humvee as well.
"That was fun. We should definitely do that again sometime." Count said with a smile on his face.
"Let us take naps while you and Fox have all the fun? Fuck that, we're bothering you next time we go out. At least we're energized. God I needed that refreshing nap."
"Speak for yourself, Mead. We're tired." Húxian said to her as she yawned.
"Alright all of you head off now, do your things, get ready for bed, check up on your shit, whatever. I'll go park this. See you all in the morning." Count said before he drove off.
Trigger waved at him as Húxian turned to him.
"I'm heading off to bed. I'd say the same for you two but you're looking wide awake."
"We'll just walk around, do some small talk, y'know." Trigger said as all of them entered the barracks.
"G'night you two." Húxian said as she walked away from them.
Trigger then turned to the short haired woman next to him.
"Well, wasn't that fun." He grinned at Avril.
"If you call having a few drinks then sleeping in a humvee and using someone's shoulder as a pillow, I guess." She replied with a small smile.
Trigger extended his arm out to her. "Shall we?"
She shook her head at his behaviour and giggled, but slipped her arm around his all the same. "Such a dumbass."
Trigger grinned at her again as both of them walked down the hallway to their rooms
She then turned to him and slipped her arm out from under his.
"What is it?" He asked her.
"Nothing, just thank you. For inviting me along. It was sweet of you." Avril said with a slight smile as she looked up at his features.
"Who are you and what have you done to the Avril Mead I know of?" Trigger asked jokingly.
"Hey, I'm being serious here for a moment." Avril looked at him incredulously.
"You always are most of the time. And slightly angry too, even though you don't mean it. But that's why I like you." Trigger laughed at her.
She lightly punched his arm and sighed before looking at him again. Trigger's laughter slowed as he gazed into her hazel eyes. Both of them leaned closer till their foreheads touched for a brief moment before their lips met. Avril wrapped her arms around his neck and Trigger wrapped his around her waist as they deepened the kiss. They kept at it for a minute before they reluctantly broke apart, panting.
"Get the door open." She said briefly before pulling him into her again. Trigger's hands fumbled with the doorknob behind her till he opened the door and pushed her in. He quickly shut the door and locked it before gently wrapping his arms under her legs and picking her up, all the while keeping his lips locked with hers.
Trigger held Avril in his arms as she unbuttoned his shirt and slipped one hand under it and the other gripped his collar to keep him from moving away as he put her down and undid her jacket and pants.
She broke the kiss again for a short moment to mutter, "The bed. Now." Before pushing him onto it and falling on top of him.
Trigger cupped Avril's face in his hands and pulled her face into his again as she took off her jacket and pants before unbuttoning his pants.
Both of them stopped for a moment and lay there for a few seconds before Trigger wrapped his arm around her waist.
"Careful of my leg, dumbass." Avril whispered as she moved back and sat on top of him and pulled off her tank top she had been wearing under her jacket while Trigger ran his hands all over her back before pulling her in closer again.
The bed creaked as light panting and moans filled the room and drowned out the ticking of the wall clock.
To be continued