Heavy Metal: Tennessee Style
Malcho and Manda slithered through the mounds of debris, trying to get a good view of the fight. There, they saw Kiryuu holding his son in his arms. Manda's eyes began to tear when he saw the two having their moment. At that time, he honestly believed that they were truly father and son. In the other mound of debris was King Ghidorah. Malcho was eyeing the still form intently. He saw the center head rise up, the two red eyes blinking.
"Uh-oh," he breathed.
If it isn't the feather duster that caused the Ten Plagues and the Atlantean Gecko, began a deep voice that chuckled darkly into their heads.
"Uh-oh," Manda breathed as he looked back. "Malcho."
"If you have a plan, amigo," Malcho began. "I suggest you use it."
"I thought you had the plan," Manda cried.
"Caramba, never trust a sea snake," growled the Great Feathered Serpent. He spread his wings and lifted off, flying towards Kiryuu and Godzilla. Malcho slipped by the undetected and landed in a dead forest near where they were, hiding under the trees. He concentrated, gathering what spells he had left, preparing to defend himself and the others if he could. Manda followed him, landing in front of the two.
"Marx?" Kiryuu asked.
"Family moment over!" Manda cried, pulling out his gun. "Look, Kiryuu, I said I'd help you and I mean it."
"Godzilla is wounded," Kiryuu began, looking back as King Ghidorah began to rise.
How interesting, the gecko wishes to help save his friends, King Ghidorah chuckled.
"I hate being called a gecko," Manda growled, pointing his gun at the golden dragon. He fired the bullet and an explosion impacted King Ghidorah, incasing him in a sphere of electricity. The space dragon lifted his head in agony and bellowed out. He was frozen for a moment, the sphere stunning his body as still as a statue.
"Uh…" Kiryuu began. "That's not a law enforcer's regulation pistol."
"No," Manda replied. "It's my special altered caster magnum. Atlantean technology—also known as Technomancy. One of the last weapons we managed to effectively use on King Ghidorah. My powers are of no use against him, but this can slow him down. I'll defend Godzilla."
"I was hoping that you would," Kiryuu smiled slightly. "Son, you remember Manda. He's here to help. He will protect you."
Godzilla nodded and closed his eyes, falling limp. Kiryuu's golden eyes opened wide when he saw his son drop unconscious.
"Don't worry,' said Manda. "He'll be fine. I got him." He glanced back at King Ghidorah, noticing that the spell his bullet had cast upon the dragon was slowly wearing off. "Go kick his ass and kick it hard. For everyone."
Kiryuu rose up and shook his spines. King Ghidorah broke free of his bonds and shook all three of his heads. Though before he could lunge for his opponent, Kiryuu had gone from being on the ground to being on his back.
What?! King Ghidorah asked just as a syntech blade came down and sliced off the center head.
"Kiryuu!" cried Manda. "No! He's a hydra!"
"What?" Kiryuu asked just as he dodged the other two heads' attack. Lightning sprayed everywhere as he leapt from the dragon's back to the ground.
"A hydra!" Manda cried. "Cut one of his heads off, two more grow in its place."
Words to live by, King Ghidorah chuckled as he turned around. Kiryuu's eyes widened as he saw the stump that was the center head began to wiggle. It split in two and two necks grew out from the center stump, forming into two more heads. Now, King Ghidorah was a four-headed dragon.
"You can't decapitate him, that won't work!" Manda cried. "Don't you know mythology?"
The two new heads reared back and sprayed their lightning at the mecha as he leapt from his spot.
"I thought the Hydra was something Hercules fought," Kiryuu cried. "I didn't expect…"
"Where do you think the myth came from?" Manda cried. "It was King Ghidorah!"
King Ghidorah reared back again and all four heads made another lunge, snapping at Kiryuu. He dodged each attack, except one. One of the heads managed to get a hold of the mecha by the arm—his mechanical one—and bit hard down upon it. Kiryuu reared his head back and bellowed out in agony from the fangs biting into his syntech, crushing what was left of the plates on his arms. Kiryuu tore away from King Ghidorah. He glanced down and noticed how his hand twitched violently. The syntech will heal, but his robotic arm was damaged. He had to get a new one. He held onto it and gasped virtually, though his body was making the gesture he was out of breath. And a four-headed Ghidorah continued to mock him with his laughter.
My dear Kiryuu Knight, he began. I will shatter your sun. Right now—he who you owe your renewed existence is fading away. Perhaps I should ease his passing.
"Gordon?" Kiryuu asked, feeling a tear flow down his cheek. "No—don't you touch him! Don't you lay your clammy claws on him. Leave him alone!"
Oh, your temper is rather hot for this human, King Ghidorah smiled again. Oh, yes. They are. I thought you would want him dead. He's always wanted you dead. He question your very existence over and over again. He deeply hated you—ever since you were activated.
"In the beginning he did," Kiryuu agreed. "But over the years he learned to respect me, trust me."
And you betrayed him every turn! He called. Oh what a tangle web we weave. You have broken his heart. And you saw how he lies there—barely even alive. And it's all because of you—you evil, little bastard you. But he'll die—and once he's dead—Gordon Knight will not longer hinder you. You will be free from your chains…
Gordon Knight coughed, covering his mouth with his hand. He growled to himself, feeling that he was growing weaker and weaker. He felt his heart began to pain him and he gripped his chest. He glanced around as he tried to call for help, but there was no one in the room. He tried to reach for the button to call the nurse, but for some strange reason, the button was out of his reach. He felt the pain shoot down his left arm and the air passages of his throat begin to close up. He tried to breath, but he could not. Stars appeared before his eyes as his skin slowly faded to a bluish color. He gripped the covers tightly, his eyes opening wide.
"Gordon!" cried a familiar voice. It sounded like his voice—but louder, stronger. It was his voice, but it did not come from him. It was the voice he gave Kiryuu—it was his voice coming from Kiryuu as it always has been. And there the mecha was standing in the room, his sparkling golden eyes lit up with worry. But another presence was with him. Something cold, something sinister—even more sinister than Kiryuu was. This presence made Kiryuu seem like a saint from Heaven. Gordon could not even call out to his mecha, he had no voice to speak with. But why was Kiryuu here? He was sent after that monster King Ghidorah. But here he was—standing in the room.
"Gordon!" Kiryuu cried.
Why are you so worried? Asked a deep and cold voice into Kiryuu and Gordon's mind. Soon, he'll be gone and you will own everything he had. You will be free from the chains that he has around you—free to do what ever you want. Why do you care for him so much? He's your taskmaster. You always called him that.
"I haven't used that word since I was in Japan," Kiryuu growled.
"Kiryuu…" Gordon hissed at him, gripping his throat and his chest. He opened his mouth wide like a fish out of water, gasping for oxygen. His chest pained him, his heart beated swiftly. Kiryuu glanced up at the machines, noticing that Gordon's heart was going into an arrest. He lunged for the button to call the nurse and the doctor, noticing that the machines were not notifying them of the situation. He stamped it with his claw several times, but they never came.
"Gordon," Kiryuu gasped, tossing the button away and gathering the human into his arms. He could not perform CPR, even if he knew the moves to do it. He could try to restart Gordon's heart, but he could not administer oxygen. He had no lungs to give the breath of life to his creator. Then, he shook his head and grabbed the collar of Gordon's robe and tore it open. His metallic claw traced the aging man's abdomen, finding the spot that he needed to be to apply the palms of his hands to. And then, he began to resuscitate the heart. He could not perform it well with his damaged arm, but he tried.
That's not going to work, Kiryuu…King Ghidorah hissed as he walked into the room. Gordon's eyes widened even more as he saw the golden dragon step into the room.
"It will work," Kiryuu growled. "I am programmed with the knowledge of the most up-to-date methods of CPR and First Aid. Gordon, I've never quit on you, don't you quit on me!"
Let that aging man go, the dragon licked his lips. He will not trouble you any further when he's dead.
"Stop saying that!" Mechagodzilla bellowed. "I won't hear it! Gordon, please. King Ghidorah, top hurting him!"
"Kiryuu…" Gordon shook his head, coughing. The pain had subsided for a moment. Kiryuu glanced up to see that his heart was returning back to normal. "Stop."
Kiryuu breathed and fell across Gordon's chest, sobbing. Gordon placed his arms around him. Kiryuu was really in the room with him. This was no hologram.
"You…really think…I'm a taskmaster?" he asked. Kiryuu lifted up and pulled his green locks away from his face.
"Not now," he replied, wiping his eyes. "Gordon—what I thought then, I don't think that now."
"Oh, Kiryuu," Gordon began. "We've—had such bitterness between each other—for so long."
"Gordon," Kiryuu shook his head, tears streaming down his eyes. "I don't want to be bitter towards you anymore."
King Ghidorah clinched his claw and Gordon flailed out in agony again.
"Stop hurting him!" Kiryuu bellowed. "I don't want him dead!"
"It—doesn't matter, Mechagodzilla…" Gordon breathed, gasping for air as he spoke. "I'm going to die. I'm going to die, so let me go, Kiryuu."
"Kiryuu…" began Gordon, pulling him down to whisper into his metallic, pointy ear. "This—might help you. Fire—the AZC—then—stick the OD inside—of him."
"Gordon, that's brilliant," Kiryuu said. There was no sarcasm in his voice this time, no bitterness; he truly meant what he said.
"I've—been setting the office up for you—to live in," Gordon began. "So you can be at the Salt Lake City office without using—a hologram. It's the secret construction I've been doing. It—was supposed to be a surprise. But—you know me. I hate surprises, even when I give them. Take care of the—company for me."
"Gordon, you'll be here when I get back…" Kiryuu began, shaking his head. "Please—be here when I get back."
"You know—I can't promise that," Gordon coughed. "Go—kick that dragon's ass…that's an order, you pathetic, piece of—used Chrysler parts."
Just one last time to insult Kiryuu—and that was all Gordon wanted to say. That was all he said before his eyes became sightless.
"Gordon Knight was like a father to me," Kiryuu rumbled somberly. "He acted very much like my real father. Everything I did I tried to please him, but that was never enough. In many ways I hated my own father because I could never please him. But Gordon Knight—it almost seemed like he was my father reincarnated. Like Maria seemed like my mate reincarnated. My father died in my arms."
And now, so did Gordon Knight, King Ghidorah began. Kiryuu blinked for a moment and glanced down to see that Gordon was in his arms. He was standing over the ruined city of Knoxville, Tennessee once more with Gordon Knight in his arms.
"He was born in Knoxville, Tennessee," he said. "While his parents were traveling from Maryland to South Carolina. After he was born, he never saw the city after that. How interesting that you are here and I am fighting you."
He slowly settled Gordon Knight's body down onto the ground and watched it fade away, returning back to where it came from. He glanced up at King Ghidorah, seeing the dragon chuckle at him again.
"You find this funny, dragon?" he growled at King Ghidorah.
Just watching another one of your family members fade away delights me, Ghidorah said.
"You killed him," Kiryuu growled. "You killed my mate, you killed my children, and you killed Gordon. You nearly had me kill my own son. Ericka died saving me from you. And the only one that's standing in your way from killing the rest of this world is me."
And with that, his left arm plates exploded off, revealing his syntech underneath, forming into many sharp, tall spines. Blades jutted out from his knuckles.
And I suppose you think you'll succeed, King Ghidorah mocked with a huff.
"I'm Kiryuu Knight," growled Kiryuu. "It's what I do. It's a part of my job."
King Ghidorah bellowed and shot his lightning at the mecha. Kiryuu's eyes flashed and his shields activated, allowing the lightning to impact on them. Dust rose around him and he dashed off, his motions once more becoming nothing more than a blur. With the dust in the way, even King Ghidorah was having a hard time trying to follow his movements. The dragon bellowed and tried to lunge at what he thought was a shadow. As he snapped at the shadow, all four of his heads were kicked twice. Kiryuu had performed an aerial butterfly kick on the dragon. The syntech blades on Kiryuu's left arm sliced through King Ghidorah's wing, clipping it right off. The dragon bellowed in rage, more than agony and waited for another strike. And he charged for the mecha. Kiryuu back flipped and slid on the ground, watching the charging dragon come for him. And then his back spines lit up.
Malcho's head roes from the trees when he saw the glowing spines light up with violet-white light. Manda's jaws just dropped. Godzilla barked for a moment as he rose painfully up to see his father's spines ignite. The air itself seemed to have been sucked out as Kiryuu drew his breath. King Ghidorah stopped his charge, his eyes wide. He turned around and tried to run. Kiryuu drew the air into his jaws, rearing his head back. And then he anchored his foot down and blasted his plasma breath forth. The blast from the fire itself was enough to even knock Manda off his feet. Kiryuu blasted the breath out like a purple fire ball, closing his mouth as the spray impacted upon King Ghidorah. King Ghidorah anchored his on feet down and braced himself against the blast. And as soon as the light and heat was gone, he felt an uppercut of a fist impact his center-most, lower jaw. The other three heads fired their beams at Kiryuu and sent him flying into Broadway and the Fifth Avenue Hotel, as well as parts of TVA, the Bellsouth Knoxville Branch Building and Downtown. Henley and Cumberland areas were now rubble. And King Ghidorah rose again, noticing that Kiryuu was down for the count. He chuckled as he walked over towards the fallen mecha. Kiryuu laid down on his back, his mouth was open. He looked almost dead.
Now, to finish what I started…he began.
Kiryuu's eyes flared open and his chest opened up. King Ghidorah glanced down as he saw the blue glow of the Absolute Zero Cannon swirl around inside Kiryuu's chest. And the cannon fired, encasing half of the dragon's body in ice. He did not have long before King Ghidorah would overcome the ice and he slid himself farther down towards the dragon's stomach.
You know I'm making this easy for you! King Ghidorah called. I knew your plan.
Kiryuu growled as his syntech thrusted into the belly of the dragon. He activated the Oxygen Destroyer once he got it inside and sliced his syntech off that held it inside the dragon's stomach.
"Why?" Kiryuu asked. "Why let me kill you?"
You'll soon find out, this world my death will create, will destroy what you have left of your pathetic civilization, the dragon replied. I have won, no matter what happens to my body.
Kiryuu scrambled out from under the dragon's body and ran for Manda and Godzilla. The ice broke and King Ghidorah let loose a bellow of agony as his flesh began to eat away. Godzilla's eyes widened as he saw the spectacle of the dragon's flesh dissolving away piece by piece until nothing more than a skeleton was left. The skeleton fell to the ground, landing on a mound of ice underneath it.
"Is that how you died, Father?" he asked.
Kiryuu glanced back wearily to his son and gathered him up into his arms again: "Yes, that's how I died." He looked up at Manda. "What the hell did King Ghidorah mean what he said about the world he created?"
"I don't know—wait…" Manda stood up and closed his eyes. He sensed something begin to rise around him. "Oh-no. Malcho!"
"Qué?" called the Great Feathered Serpent. He flew down towards Kiryuu, who just stared at him with wide eyes.
"Malcho?" Kiryuu asked. "Soñador Malcho?"
"Hola, Kiryuu Knight," Malcho smiled. "Surprised?"
"Not really," Kiryuu shook his head. "I had a feeling."
"Do you feel that?" Manda asked.
Malcho glanced around and began to sense the energy that was slowly rising: "It's Mana. Mana is rising in this area. I sense it is coming from the bones of King Ghidorah. Oh boy. Mana rising means that the world will change."
"The world will change?" Kiryuu asked. "What did King Ghidorah do?"
"The world will change," said Manda. "It's going to get a little weirder after this."
"A volcano just irrupted where none have in nearly 200 million years," Kiryuu pointed at the glow coming from the Smoky Mountains. "How weird is it going to be?"
"King Ghidorah, by dying, has now upset the energies of this planet," said Manda. "It'll be isolated occurrences. People mutating into—other things—other creatures. Animals mutating into other types of creatures like—griffins, gorgons…mythological creatures."
"Our kind starts awakening," Malcho began. "And all these changes will cause mayhem everywhere. The land itself will start to change. Like the Smokies changed, so will other mountains as well. Mountains that are, will cease to exist, where there is low grasslands, forests will rise. Islands will sink and rise. King Ghidorah has started a chain reaction that will forever change this world and its inhabitants. Wars will be started because of the changes."
"So—he wanted me to kill him?" Kiryuu asked.
"So you would be the one responsible for the—mutation this world will go through," Manda said.
"That bastard," Kiryuu growled. "Responsible? I'm trying to save this world from being dragon chow—and now I just destroyed it?"
"Not destroyed it, changed it," said Manda. "You've changed it."
"What am I supposed to do?" he asked.
"Change with it," Malcho replied. "And I can help you."
Manda glanced from Malcho to Kiryuu and then shook his head: "Oh no, no. No! You will not teach him Technomancy."
"I don't think we have much of a choice," Malcho said. "This will help him. This will help everyone. He can learn it, he has crystal fragments already in him."
"Hold it!" Kiryuu bellowed. "I just saw my creator die in my arms, and I just killed a space dragon, who has now—with his own death—brought about some cataclysm—that thanks to me killing him, will happen…and what is Technomancy?"
"To put it simply," began Manda, who interjected before Malcho could say anything. "It's Atlantean technology. Malcho used Atlantean technology inside of you—namely your shields. We found that there was this energy that could be captured and stored into crystalline form and used in technology and another form of magic, even psionics. It was our secret of being so advanced. I mean we had gravity generators before Chrysler came out with it for your feet—which by the way—is also Atlantean technology. Malcho's been selling it."
"It helps me make a profit," the Feathered Serpent shrugged. "And how did you know."
Manda sighed and lifted up one of Kiryuu's feet, pointing to the sole. Underneath was an intricate design of glowing blue, crystalline cells.
"I'm not that gullible, peacock," he growled at Malcho. "I know Atlantean technology when I see it. How many crystals did you use?"
"The nanite power cells inside Kiryuu's fluid system…" Malcho began. "Technomantic crystals too. From the Tower of Babel."
"Malcho, I'm gonna kill you!" Manda cried. "That means he's a portable Technomantic Tower!"
"It explains how he can transfer meat and proteins into plasma," Malcho smiled.
"Just how much influence did Omak-Argon have in my construction, Malcho?" Kiryuu asked.
"The Utah Foundation and Omak-Argon have been working together since your designs were put out on the floor," Malcho began. "They found out that they could not fully create a muscle system and have it live over a dead skeleton. Syntech can run perfectly when combined with living tissue—but dead tissue—so I used the energy from the crystals to help in creating your syntech. The crystals contain life-force energies from the planet, the stars, everything. And that's the secret. But because of that, you can use Technomancy. And I can teach you."
"No thank you," Kiryuu growled as he helped his son off of the ground. "My own powers are enough."
"Sooner or later, you will not think that is so," said Malcho. "I sense something growing inside of you and you will not be able to control it. I can help you do that."
"As can I," said Manda. "Biollante left something in you. And it will change you."
"Sí," Malcho said. "You must learn to control the power she has given you or it will drive you mad. Besides, there is a spell that you should learn, it will help you in the long run."
"And what spell is that?" Kiryuu asked.
"Not the Mass Displacement spell," Manda began. "You want to teach him that."
"Teaching him that will make his job as CEO better," said Malcho.
"Mass displacement?" Kiryuu asked. "You mean—shrink?"
"You see?" Malcho asked. "He already gets it. He would make and excellent Technomancer."
"A shrinking spell would help some," Kiryuu said.
"In order for you to learn Mass Displacement," began Malcho. "You will have to learn about Technomancy. You must learn to crawl before you learn to walk."
"A cyborg learning Technomancy," began Manda. "This ought to be interesting."
Manda sighed as he landed in the middle of the middle of the parking lot. Jo had waited for him a long time to return and come pick her up. Malcho and he were off, sending Godzilla and Kiryuu back to their respected homes. Godzilla needed rest and he passed out just before Malcho had teleported him back to Ogasawara Island. Kiryuu was returned by Manda, who told him that he will be in contact with him. And then, Malcho and Manda had returned to Oak Ridge where Jo was waiting for her partner.
"So, how did it go?" she asked him. "Is he dead?"
"Well, we're not dead," said Manda. "And Kiryuu destroyed him."
"Sí," Malcho nodded. "He did."
"Why is everyone so sad?" Jo asked.
"It doesn't matter," Manda sighed. "It doesn't matter at all."
"You two better return home," said Malcho. "I'll clean up here."
"What do you intend to do with that tower?" Manda asked him.
"Continue on, amigo," Malcho chuckled as he glanced back at the glowing blue Tower of Babel.
"I guess that means you win," Manda sighed. "You get the Tower of Atlantis."
Manda raised his claws up, about ready to make the great Tower of Atlantis materialize before him when Malcho help up a wing.
"Not yet," he began. "Don't summon it yet. When the time comes, I will call upon it. I have two towers right now. I'll need to find a place for the third. Perhaps Kiryuu can help with that one day. I know, it will be his first Raising. He can summon and rise the Tower of Atlantis when he's powerful enough to do so."
"Okay," Manda nodded. He lowered his head to Jo and she hopped on. "Well, I suppose this is good bye for now."
"Hasta luego, mi amigo," Malcho nodded. "Until the next time we meet."
Manda looked out over the warm sea, glad that he was now out of that chilly, deathly place. He sat, coiled up on the roof top of his trailer. Jo was inside, cooking. The sun was slowly setting behind him, over the soft waves of the Gulf of Mexico. He shook his head sadly as he looked out amongst the waves. Before, they were turbulent, signaling that the world was about to die because of King Ghidorah, now they held a cold stillness that disturbed him. The world was not changing—changing because of King Ghidorah. He actually shivered a bit in the warm air, his rainbow fins flattening out. He growled a bit as he shifted again on the roof. He was growing anxious and tired from what had happened. The last thing that King Ghidorah had said was: "My death will bring about the end of your pathetic civilization." And that statement disturbed him. He knew what that meant and he was not happy to hear that it would come so soon. Manda hoped that Earth would have a few more centuries before they would come.
He turned over and shuffled himself off of the roof, his lengthy, sinuous body flopping off and hitting the sand. Jo heard the noise and rushed out, glancing around. She found her partner coiled up on the sand now, his tail just tapping the beach lightly. She sighed and shook her head, walking outside with a look of pity for him. She was more than happy to be back home where it was warm and not freeze to death in a cold, ash-covered land filled with ruins. Why couldn't he be?
"Tim," she began. "What's the matter now?"
"I think my life sucks right now," the Dragon replied.
"Why?" Jo asked. "We're home. It's warm. I'm not freezing my ass off anymore and I finally got the smell of brimstone out of my clothes."
"Can't my life just suck without reason?" Manda grunted as he rolled over onto his back. "Does it really matter?"
"I care a lot about you, Timothy Marx," she said, sitting down into his coils. She grabbed his whisker and drew his head close to her. "A lot about you."
"Jo?" Manda began, blinking from behind his sunglasses.
"Shut up," Jo smirked as she brought the Dragon's lips close to hers. With that, she pressed her lips against his and leaned him back for a passionate kiss. Jo reached up and took Manda's glasses off, tossing them down onto the sand. She leaned slightly away from him, but her lips were still very close. "Just forget about it for one night, Tim. Just let me help you forget."
"Jo…" Manda breathed as he felt her hands feel up and down his flank. "I—didn't know you felt this way about me."
"And you wonder why I wanted to stay with you for so long," Jo giggled, laying her head against his neck. "I know—it's odd. I'm in love with a Dragon. But the question is—do you feel the same way?"
She put him on the spot after that. Manda could not find the right words to say. Did he feel the same way about her? He blinked for a moment and glanced around. Somewhere, he did feel the same way, but he was scared to admit it. This was his partner, his comrade. He worked with her on cases. Manda let loose a yelp when he felt her tickle around his belly. Her fingers were playing around, making his muscles go into spasms. He concentrated on her touch. She had soft hands, for someone in her line of work. Usually handling a gun would roughen up one's hands. But she always kept hers soft with lotion. Manda began to give into his senses and his noise felt a tingle. He could smell the lotion on her hands as she rubbed around his chest and abdomen. They smelled like strawberries. He loved strawberries. Manda placed his claw on her hand and his eyes opened. She glanced up at him with that smile that he always liked, her long, silky black hair blowing in the wind. The Dragon leaned down and kissed her lips. He did feel that way about her.
"I do," he breathed. "It's just that—what would others think? I'm not human."
"I don't care," smiled Jo. "I've had human men before. They're not all that great. You're the only decent man I have ever met."
Manda laid back again as Jo came up over him, straddling his chest. She slowly unbutton the top of her shirt, slipping it off. She had her sports bra on underneath. She leaned down again to kiss her partner once more, enjoying the feeling of his soft, scaly lips against hers. She could actually smell what he smelled like when she was so very close to him. He smelled like oranges. She loved oranges. Manda pulled her away for a moment, remembering that she was cooking something.
"Uh, maybe you should check on the food," he said.
"Don't worry," she purred at him. "I set the pot off the eye before I came out. I guess it'll be cold when we get back inside."
"Well, we can always heat it back up," Manda chuckled again, flipping Jo over to kiss her. He leaned away to rub his cheek against hers, enjoying the mixture of strawberries and oranges. And the two just entangled, enjoying the love that they were finally able to admit to each other.