It was his last call of the day. Crow had worked non stop for pretty much the whole week. Work served as the only way of keeping her out of his head. Duelling was ok when it was his turn, but when he had to wait to the other person to make their move his mind often wandered. Turning the corner he approached the last house, the final tick on his list. He stopped the runner and unloaded the cargo into his arms. He wasn't sure but, by the weight of the box, he guessed that the residents must be having a party. Or they were just really really hungry. Or giants...maybe not. Walking up the garden path, he scanned the house. It was fairly normal looking, nice garden, clean windows. Somehow though, it seemed a little familiar. Then the curtains twitched back and a face stared out at him before disappearing. He heard the lock click and the door swung open. Oh nuts. This girl had been ordering take-out from Blackbird Delivery pretty much routinely for the past month or so. He'd heard from others who came that she had taken quite a fancy to him, and didn't tip as generously if he wasn't there. Word was that she had a bit of a thing for him, though he was about 90% sure that she had a boyfriend.
In all honesty, she didn't look that bad. Her pale skin would've looked pasty on anyone else, but coupled with her curtain of blonde hair it seemed to fit. Her eyes were outlined cutely in a gold shimmer and each edge lightly sharpened with black eye-liner. She had just the right angles and curves that most guys wanted in a girl. And don't think that she didn't know it; today's outfit was a figure hugging, deep pink t-shirt paired with some high waisted shorts and a pair of gold high heels which added an extra few inches to her height.
"Hi."She gave him a sultry smile which he awkwardly accepted, smiling helplessly back. "Always right on time." As she had done before, she leaned on the door frame and flicked her hair with perfectly manicured nails. Now, he wasn't the most clued up of guys about women but even he could recognise flirting. He rolled off the delivery, even though he was certain that she wasn't paying attention. He told her the price and she backtracked a few steps and grabbed some money off the sideboard. Quickly counting it, she frowned before yelling.
"HEY! Anyone got some extra cash that they wouldn't mind donating to the take-out fund?" Crow winced, her voice took on a scratchy, almost whining tone when she yelled.
"Bloody calm down Onyx, there's no need to blow our frickin' ears off." Crow froze, he recognised the voice. No...it can't be. But it was, as the girl from the garage appeared from one of the rooms, brandishing a small, black wallet. "How much do ya need?" She looked up, and then stopped, smiling as recognition flashed across her face. "Hello again."
"A ten should cover it, and the tip." Onyx held out her hand, into which Miks deposited the money. Onyx turned back to him still grinning. "Here you go." She held his gaze for longer than he felt comfortable with. The mystery girl raised her eyebrows.
"Onyx, stop flirting. Or shall I tell Sven that he needs to find a new girlfriend?"
"Don't be a wet blanket. I'm just havin' a bit a fun."
Miks turned around "SVEN! YOUR GIRL'S FLIRTIN' WITH SOMEONE THAT AIN'T YOU." A few moments later a guy came out of the room. Like his girlfriend, his hair was blonde, except where hers was more bleachy his was more cool-surfer-dude-at-the-beach-every-week kinda blonde. He wore a baggy blue shirt over khaki beach shorts. Unlike his girl, he was wearing flip-flops, not high heels. Not that he needed then. He was tall. Very tall. As he approached he towered over the two girls. Crow would've found it funny if he wasn't so terrified. Then, the guy, Sven, leaned down to take a closer look at him, a serious expression on his face. He studied him for a few moments. Crow didn't know where to look. Then, Sven's expression changed, and a goofy smile overtook his face.
"I'm jus' kiddin'. Cool down little guy." Crow went slightly red at the name.
"Sven. It's calm down or cool it, not cool down, well unless the guy's on fire or somethin'."
"My way combines the two so is therefore more awesome. So you can shut up now." She flipped him off jokingly. He grinned back before looping his arm around Onyx. She sighed and settled happily into his arms, Crow forgotten in a matter of minutes.
"Hey, I'll pay and get the food, you guys go and sort the plates and stuff out."
"Do we have to?" Onyx whined.
"Well, I can get Damian to do it if ya want." Onyx's face brightened until Miks continued. "But that means that you're on washing up duty."
"Fine, let's go." She scowled, handed her the money and tugged on Sven's arm, pulling him into a room at the end of the hallway. Crow watched them disappear before returning his attention to her. She gave him the money and took the box from his arms.
"Sorry about them. They're just...bonkers I guess. But I love 'em for it." She shrugged. "So...this is your job? Dealing with scrappy little flirts in an attempt to deliver food?" He nodded.
"Yeah I guess so." He paused, "not everyone is like her though."
"Thank God for you." She looked past him, "that your ride?" Even though he knew exactly what she was talking about. Even though he could describe his runner in his sleep he still turned around to look.
"Yeah."
She nodded her head approvingly, "it's good. Never seen one with wings before though but ya know, first time for everything." He chuckled, not entirely sure of what else he could do. To save himself further embarrassment, he started to walk away. About halfway down the path his mind jolted and his ever burning question rang in his ears. But he couldn't exactly turn around. Not without looking like a desperate idiot that is. Mercifully, he was forced to turn around when she called out. "What did Johnny say to you the other day?". She approached him, picking her way up the path in bare feet, being careful not to step on anything.
"Huh? Oh, it's...it's nothing." She raised her eyebrows and stepped closer.
"It was something all right. Something enough to make you blush." Her eyes scanned his face curiously. He tried not to react. "You may as well tell me. Don't make me force it outta ya." Although he didn't think she was serious he relented.
"Ok...when you went to get the part he...gestured in your direction and...his exact words were 'You could do a lot worse ya know'." He stopped as she sighed.
"Damn you Johnny." She muttered under her breath. "Always tryin' ta fix me up with someone." Her mini rant ended and she refocused her attention on him, "sorry about that, it's just his latest trick. And ya know, yeah you could do a lot worse but...you could also do a lot better." She watched his face for any sign of a positive or negative reaction. When he gave nothing she thanked him for the delivery and started to walk back down the path. He watched her go, and then said something stupid, like he did sometimes, Almost immediately after he cursed himself, swearing internally at his idiocy. Meanwhile she turned back to face him.
"What?" His face burned, but he still repeated the sentence.
"Maybe I don't want to do a lot better." He looked at the ground.
"That's...stupid of you. You don't even know my name and you're hitting on me?" He gave up no answer so she came closer, putting her gloved hand on his shoulder. "Don't worry, I'm not angry or annoyed or anything like that. I'm confused that's all." He looked up, meeting her eyes.
"What's your name?" She smiled.
"Mikki. Like that guy's name but with two Is and two Ks. Not an I, a C, a K, an optional E and a Y." Mikki. Finally, he knew. It suited her perfectly. He smiled without even realising. She grinned back. "You got a name stranger?"
"Crow. Like...the bird." She laughed. He mused. He'd already made an idiot of himself, something that she hadn't seemed to have minded. Why not go the whole hog while he was at it. After all, he was not one for half measures. "So, do you have a number?"
The curious expression was back, "why? You want it?" He mimicked her expression, adding a hint of smugness, hoping that it hid his nerves.
"Maybe." She studied him for a few moments before backtracking into the house and returning a few heartbeats later with a piece of paper in her hand. She held it in front of him, not offering but insinuating that if he wanted it, he had to get it. Crow held his hand out and she dropped the paper onto his palm,
"You seem harmless enough. But then again my judgement is kinda screwed up." He tucked the slip into his pocket, quickly checking that there was actually a number on there "So...I'll see you around sometime." Without another word, she retreated back into the house, leaving him standing in a state of astonishment on the path. Eventually, his senses returned and he climbed on his duel runner, switched on the engine, and headed back to the garage as if nothing had happened.
The next morning he was left alone. The others had gone to test out the parts he'd found the other week so he was alone in the garage, with nothing but his mind for company. Which wasn't actually the best thing you could have as company. He flipped the paper over in his fingers, staring at it, wishing that it would give him the answers he desired. Finally, he threw all caution to the wind and picked up his phone, hesitating slightly before punching the numbers in and pressing dial.
