It was a game or change and at these games he was king. To find out when the change was right and then strike swiftly, never back down and never give in.

Most importantly though, ignore all distractions! Ignore the perfectly shaped cleavage across the table, the hot sticky evening air and the way that small tank top clung to the curves of a beautiful put together body

Ignore all distractions!

"How many?"

"None, thank you."

Oh she was good, that sly smile and those innocent green eyes. But he was better and now it was time to up the odds.

"How about a bet?"

"That good?"

Grinning, he shrugged nonchalantly, trying to play off her observation. Because even if it sounded like a question, it was clearly another of her keen observations.

"Invincible?" She asked, shaking out her ponytail.

"Never had a rival I couldn't best."

The tapping of a foot against the floor indicated she was thinking it over.

"Okay, I'm game."

And once again, the stakes had been raised.

"If I win, you must lavish every inch of my body with love."

Eyes widened, a very unladylike noise escaped from behind her lips.

"And if you win?"

She just smiled, adjusting one of the straps on her top.

"Since you have never lost, it seems somewhat pointless to give away my bet."

"Tease," he replied, shifting his legs under the table. "Ready?"

Nodding behind her raised hands, she made a gesture to him.

"You go first."

He lay the cards down on the table, mentally patting himself on the back as the row of red showed up perfectly.

"Straight Flush," he proclaimed happily. "And now you."

"Hmm," she replied, lowering her hand to the table. "Royal flush."

"No way!"

Jumping to his feet, he examined the cards carefully glaring at the royal faces that mocked him.

"I win." She smiled at him, completely innocent except for the beginning of a wicked gleam in her eyes. "Now about that bet."


"I refuse!" He cried, stomping his foot in defiance. "This is bad enough as is! I refuse to go out where people can see me."

"Aw, but you look so adorable!"

Glancing up into the mirror, he cringed at the reflection that stared back at him. First it was the pink boxers, he could go along with that, it wasn't like he didn't enjoy parading around in as little clothes as possible. But then she added the pink socks, pink socks with frilly lace at the edges.

Now she was just going to far! So he refused the last part of the bet, still trying to figure out where she had kept all this stuff hidden without his knowledge.

"It will only be for a few minutes," she responded, trying to coax him into the last part of the bet. "Common Mr. Invincible, this should be a cake walk for you."

"You are a cruel, vicious woman," he pouted as she pushed him closer to the door. "Only a few minutes, right?"

"Right," she answered, rising up onto her tiptoes to whisper in his ear. "And when you get back, we'll talk a little about your bet."

The door opened behind him and all he could do was stare at her with a lopsided grin. Shoving the pink maids hat, where that had been hidden he wasn't sure, on top of his unruly hair, she shoved him out the door and closed it in his face with a defiant click. Followed closely by the sound of the lock sliding into place.

He could hear her laughter through the door but waited patiently for the few minutes to pass.

"Okay," he said suddenly, shaking the doorknob which refused to turn. "Time to let me back in now!"

The continued laughing was the only response.

"Aerith, I'm serious!" He pleaded, glancing down the hall at the man who was giving him just a little too much attention. "Seriously Aerith, there is a guy out here and he's staring at me."

"Maybe he likes you."

"Not funny! Shit Aerith, he's coming this way, let me in!" He began to shake the knob violently as the man with the gleaming look in his eyes grew closer. "Aerith!"

The knob turned under his hand and he shoved the door open, bolting into the apartment and slamming the door behind him as the man appearing in the doorway. She was against the wall laughing, hands clutching her sides as the giggles shook her body.

It was a good distraction from his current humiliation.

"I hope you are happy," he huffed, tearing the hat off his head. "I could have been molested! Or worse!"

Dignity completely destroyed, it was time to just screw it and move on to his part of the bet. Shooting across the living room, he grabbed her pulled her up into his arms, sealing those giggling lips with his own.

Pulling away, her cheeks were flushed pink, the same color as his currently boxers.

"My turn."


I blame my friend and her crack for the sheer pinkness of Zax's punishment.