Random Fact: The fic's length is story-based, not relationship based. So, even if Lei-Lei does finally warm up to Raptor, that won't end the fic; you'll find out her killer, you'll find out what happens in the end. But that's still very far away… and that may not be the end.
Also, I didn't sumbit much today, but tomorrow's an early release day from school, so I'll have more!
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My sting won't hurt. It'll just kill ya.
Raptor and Le Marta had 'booked a flight'' to somewhere, though Raptor had made sure to avoid letting Lei-Lei and Mei-Ling know in advance. Raptor's agents were to take care of his car, and Le Marta would accompany them on their 'flight'.
Raptor's lies were revealed when they had gone down to a broken-down, old subway stop instead of an airplane.
"I wonder," Lei-Lei said to herself.
"Oh?" Raptor said. "Y' haven' been to th' Iron Horse b'fore?"
Raptor looked at a beaten-down nearby clock, and, a subway train began to pass through.
The subway obviously ignoring this beaten-down stop, it continued.
Raptor then leapt in front of the train.
Adorable, sweet Lei-Lei gave a shriek of some sort, her sleeves covering her mouth, but then silenced; though he secretly wished it was a cry of fear, he knew it was most likely a cry of surprise. The entire area turned pink and purple, the train morphing to a monstrosity featuring eyes and mouths on the sides and front. And they moved.
Lei-Lei was looking a little woozy, but Raptor knew she was too strong to faint at something weird-looking.
Raptor came back up, intact.
"Y'see, love, something dead dyin' again causes a paradox. That's 'ow this train 'appens… I'm unharmed, and we get a portal to Makai."
"M-Makai?"
Raptor was grinning, and Mei-Ling, wishing to protect her sister from such overwhelming dark forces, turned herself into a scroll on Lei-Lei's forehead.
Raptor laughed, and placed his hand on Lei-Lei's waist.
"Aw, nothin' t' be afraid of, baby. I've been to 'Ell and back, this is nothin'."
"Raptor…"
"Yes, love?"
She looked composed, but slightly uncomfortable.
"When this train drops us off, your arm better be off of my waist!"
"Gee," Raptor said. "I don' s'ppose y' ever realized Makai doesn't look exactly like our world, and that, if y' step in a puddle, it's actually a thirty-foot-deep lake…"
Lei-Lei growled, looking away. Raptor wished her face had the ability to blush, as he had no indication whether she was completely loathing being near him.
"Okay, fine," Lei-Lei said finally, crossing her arms in a cute pout.
Lei-Lei and Raptor boarded the train, which crossed past a series of horribly clashing colors to a seemingly normal world.
"I don't see how this is any different," Lei-Lei said quite angrily.
Raptor grinned, and then pointed to some floating, upside-down, and sideways architecture. He even gestured to a castle, which seemed to have a vortex at its center.
"So," Raptor said, "we're gonna go see Troll-Hair, and see if he knows anything about the armor or Bishamon."
"What's his name? Just in the worst case scenario that he turns out to be formidable, and I want mercy."
"Dimitri Maxmogg. Dimitri Farfinoff. Hmm…"
"I-I'll just go with Dimitri…"
She then saw something hit the windshield, and Lei-Lei shrieked.
The train stopped due to the fatality, and Lei-Lei went down onto the deck to see what it was.
"It's a girl!"
Raptor was incredulous.
"That hit th' windshield? I'm not so sure…"
It was Q-Bee, sprawled out, her legs writhing sickly as if she was a roach on its back, one wing fluttering spasmodically.
"Fffffbbbbzzzzzzz…"
Lei-Lei helped her up.
"Come on, your eyes are open…"
"Those are decoys, love. Th' ones… the ones on 'er 'ead…"
Q-Bee smelled Lei-Lei, and then flung her stinger at her. Lei-Lei backed up.
"Hey!"
Q-Bee simply buzzed, and Raptor seemed to squint, even if he did have skeletal eyesockets.
"Oy, Lei-Lei…. I'll handle this one…"