Chapter 9: It's cold outside
Jackal ran as fast as he could to catch up with Starling. He was tactful about hitting on her. It was the first time he was really tactful about anything. He wasn't going to screw it up.
"Starling! Where are you?" he called for the Interceptor
"Are you looking for a violet haired girl eh?" A blizzarian asked "If so she's behind that shed."
"Thanks." He said moving in the direction that he pointed
"No problem chief."
Jackal walked behind the shed to see Starling with her back turned.
"Hey, violet." Jackal said
"Hi" She said softly without turning around
"Wanna tell me what that was?" He raised an eyebrow "Look, if you didn't like me that way you could have said it. I'm a big boy I can handle it."
"You don't understand." She turned around revealing teary eyes "I do."
"So you don't want to go out with me...now I get it." He said sarcastically
"This is bad...we shouldn't do this." She stammered
"Bad? I like you and you like me. I'm not seeing the bad." he smirked
"You look at things too simply. What if this doesn't work? What if you end up hating me?" She asked
"Okay, that won't happen. This is what I didn't want, all this romantic drama crap. These losers who are trapped in romance dramas. That is what ruins things." He said "Plus, I could never hate you."
"What if I lose you?" She asked
"Bingo! There's the problem. You're afraid that I'll die like your old squadron." he smiled reassuringly "That lizard brain won't get me. The only reason you lost that day was because he got the drop on you."
"But..." She was cut off
"Your team wouldn't want you to be all emo and not do what you want because something might happen." Jackal finished
"Yes." She said
"What?"
"I will watch the borealis with you." she smiled
"So, are you my girlfriend or what?" he asked
"Tactless as always!" She smacked him on the back of the head "But yes."
"Now you want to go back to our friends?" She nodded
They walked back toward the ice rink. Jackal smirked and put his arm around her shoulder. She looked at him.
"What? It's cold outside." He said
"Lame" she grinned
"Awwww!" Leeanne called when she saw them approach
"Don't make me use my katana." He growled "Besides, you said to give her some time. But you were wrong. Ha! Leeanne was wrong!"
"You finally got a girlfriend." Sal commented
"My girlfriend is cool, how can you handle my sister?" He chuckled
"He handles me all over." Leeanne grinned at her brother's disgusted reaction
"Hopefully he uses gloves." Jackal commented
"That is a good idea. You must avoid diseases." Jen said to the horror of the others "What? Bog measels, Hyperbolic sour syndrome, brain rot, poison spleen syndrome, there are many diseases to avoid."
"Oh, we thought you meant...never mind." Starling just waved it off
They were broken out of their conversation by a loud boom. They looked toward the source of the noise to see one of the houses with a large hole blasted in the roof. They looked above to see the raptors flying over head.
"They thought they could attack during the festival. They didn't plan on us being here."
Sal smiled
"Hey Jen, shoot the dumb one down!" Jackal said
"Which one's the dumb one?" The merb smirked raising her bow
"Any one will do eh?" Suzy Lu said
Jen readieed her arrow and aimed. She fired her bow hitting Lugey's skimmer sending it hurtling toward the ground. Repton growled and slapped his forehead at the sight of his brother hitting the ground.
"Idiot!" Repton growled surveying the ground "Where did that come from? What, Starling is here? Who are those people with her?"
"Nice shot eh?" Billy Rex commented "That'll show those housers."
Repton signaled for them to land. They landed near the ice rink.
"Lugey!" Repton yelled
"Coming boss!" The other raptor yelled getting up from making a snow angel.
The Raptors were all together. They ignited their weapons.
"Alright! We're taking over this terra you mangey blizzarians!" Repton growled raising his bommerang.
"You and what army lizard lips?" Leeanne said grinning
"Ah you beat me to it." Jackal gave the thumbs up
"Who are you?" Repton asked mockingly "I thought I destroyed those pathetic Interceptors."
"We're the new recruits." Sal said
Starling readied her nun chucks but Jackal put out his hand to stop her.
"I've always wanted to fight a lizard man." Jackal said "Hey, newt boy! How about my friends against yours? One on one for each of us."
"Fine by me! Hoerk you take Starling! Lugey you take the black haired girl! Spitz...do you think you can handle that stoner?" Repton issued his orders
The respective opponents squared off. Jackal
drew his katana and pointed it at Repton.
"You look pretty tough...but I bet you fight like an amphibian." Jackal chuckled
"That's where I draw the line. Never compare me to a frog!" Repton growled
"Go chew a lilly pad." Jackal smirked
And the fight began