VACATION TIME, PLEASE
Chapter 13: The Mouse that Roared
IMBSA: Here we go again. This is the longest fic to my name. Wow.
Disclaimer: "You're not drunk if you can lie on the floor without holding on."
IMBSA: Enjoy!
"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
Sakaki walked back to talk to the others. He was feeling a little guilty since none of Doujima's suggestions were even considered tonight. Perhaps if they all went walking on Duval Street like she said, the fight would not have occurred. But the past was the past. He shoved his hands in his pockets. Michael met him in the lobby, "Where'd everyone go?" Sakaki asked.
"Amon went to talk to Robin and Karasuma. Hey, are you going back up to our room?" Michael replied.
"Probably…why, what did you have in mind?" Sakaki queried.
"I don't know…thought I'd ask," Michael replied, Sakaki could tell the hacker was antsy to do something fun.
"We could go back down to the pool….and check things out again," Sakaki suggested.
Michael and Sakaki walked back outside to the pool area. Four coeds were still there, although they had lost the loud giddiness since the fight. Michael and Sakaki stood by the gate, debating whether they should enter or not. Suddenly one of the coeds began striding towards them. She was tall, tanned with a lean, athletic build. She had shoulder length wavy auburn hair that swayed back and forth as she headed towards them. Michael was getting tense again. He looked like he was hyperventilating. Sakaki had flashbacks of Michael's face on the plane and smiled. He wondered if the girl was walking to them, or walking by them. Was she going to talk to them or taunt them? Who is she going to talk to? He wasn't sure. But from the looks of it appeared like she was on the prowl. Michael and Sakaki watched silently with their eyes as she slowly rounded the corner, stopped and steadied her light blue eyes right into Michael's spectacled face.
"Hi…listen we were wondering, were you guys in Tokyo earlier?" She questioned sheepishly smiling looking at Michael. Sakaki got the feeling he was just an after thought. He touched his forehead and tried to make sure the ring on his head wasn't too noticeable. Michael didn't know what to say. He didn't really want to be associated with the asinine stunt, as Amon put it, Sakaki pulled in Tokyo. Unless they thought it was cute or funny—if they did, then of course. But he didn't know how to read her. He wasn't used to meeting females outdoors and in the flesh, especially one so exposed. Sakaki tried to give him some inconspicuous signals by quick head shakes and fake coughing that suspiciously sounded like a "no." But Michael wouldn't say anything. If this question went unanswered for too much longer, Sakaki knew this perfect specimen of a woman, like a beautiful sunset, would fade into night.
Coming to a conclusion at the same time, Michael said, "Yes," while Sakaki said, "No."
She raised her eyebrows. "Well….So, it was you guys there." She stated, seemingly more inclined to believe the bespectacled hacker.
Once again, Michael said "Yes," as Sakaki said "No."
There was an awkward pause. "When you guys decide which answer it is, I'll be at this table with my friends." She pointed gave them a small smile and walked away. The two Hunters turned toward each other.
"Dude, she's mine." Sakaki claimed quickly.
"She was so-o talking to me, Haruto. Don't be greedy, you already have Doujima!"
"What are you talking about? Who'd want that P-M-S-ing , high maintenance bitch?"
Michael's eyes suddenly went wide and afraid.
"Um….Haruto?" His voice bespoke the utmost terror and panic.
"What?" Sakaki asked, still looking in the direction of the coeds.
"Turn around and look up, dude!" Sakaki obliged only to have his expression mirror Michael's at the sight of an obviously angry Doujima standing on the balcony, fists on her hips.
"Hey girl!" He yelled, waving up at her, too casual to seem real. He looked at Michael. "You're on your own, dude. I gotta go."
"Yeah," Michael agreed, seeing that Doujima still watched them closely. Sakaki patted him on the shoulder for luck .
"Let's see what she makes of the Mikester." Sakaki muttered to the hacker in the way of encouragement as he went upstairs. He turned back and watched Michael. Sakaki couldn't help but feel like he was sending a mullet into a pool of piranhas. Michael gulped and slowly roved towards the table of co-eds.
""""""""""""""""""""""
Around 3 in the morning, Sakaki and Amon were awoken to the sound of loud, unsteady pounding on the door.
"What the—" Sakaki jerked up. He felt as though he had just fallen asleep on that uncomfortable, roll-away bed.
Amon quickly yet cautiously opened the door like a sentry guard. He pushed the door out wider to the wall and scanned the corridor with his eye to admit a very tired, very drunk, and VERY happy Michael Lee. The hacker staggered towards his bed with a smile, as Amon pushed the door closed and came to listen.
"Dude! You missed it, man…You missed ---OUT!" Michael said with a grin, gesturing like an umpire. Sakaki got up to help the unsteady Michael sit down on his bed.
"What happened?" Sakaki asked.
"Dude, I got two words for you, man….hot…tub!" Michael emphasized the two words with three fingers and started giggling.
"What'd you do?" Sakaki pryingly asked. Michael slowly shook his head and put his finger to his lips as protecting a secret.
"What happens in the hot tub….Stays in the hot tub!" he proclaimed.
"God, I hope so," Amon muttered disdainfully, thinking of all the potential biological dangers that lurked around when you mixed booze, bodies and tubs. Michael's head collapsed onto the pillow. Sakaki couldn't stand the suspense, he shook Michael.
"Did you get her name? Her number?" she asked. Michael counted his hand carefully and then held up five fingers.
"I gah foor," Michael said smiling, as he reached into his damp back pocket and pulled out a hastily folded napkin with names and numbers written in pen.
"Four? Which name and number is hers? You know that girl that talked to you?" Sakaki asked.
Michael furrowed his brows. He had talked to so many of them it seemed, the night was becoming a blur. He looked at the napkin and squinted.
"Oh shit…I don't r'member…But I'll pro'bly see her tomorrow," he answered in a dull stupor; and with that Michael turned over on his belly and was totally and completely out. Sakaki abandoned the idea of repeating the question, took Michael's glasses off his smiling face and placed them on the bedside table. He turned off the light.
For what was left of the dark hours of sleeping time, Sakaki and Amon could not decide which was worse: Michael's heaving in the bathroom or Michael's snoring. They continuously took turns at facing Michael on his side to stop him from making god awful echoing, snorts and buzzes. Their attempts appeared to be futile. Quiet Michael who seemed to only speak when spoken to or was just slightly louder than the tapping of a computer keyboard, was out and out a raucous and rattling snoring sleeper when he laid down on a bed. The noise that was emanated from his person seemed to vibrate everything in the room from the wall hangings to the sliding glass doors. At one point, Sakaki got up. Amon's bed was empty. He found the Hunter in the bathtub with the bedspread and blanket surrounding him like a cocoon. He also had a couple of ear plugs that had been handed out on the flight (he seemed to have been saving them for an emergency such as this). Sakaki finally found solace on the balcony just outside their sliding glass doors where he put the rollaway bed, after he moved some of the patio furniture out of the way. It was all the rookie could do to get a good early morning's rest. He was soon lulled to sleep by the sound of the lapping waves and the trade winds that Key West had to offer.
""""""""""""""""""""
Sakaki was roused out of his sleep by the sound of distant voices and the cry of seagulls. One seagull sat just above him on the railing that surrounded the balcony. His sleepy eyes focused on the bird. It turned around, gave him a great view of its behind and left a white mark on the side of his head. He didn't feel it at first, but then it started running off his brown locks and on to his cheek. He quickly sat up and wiped the mess with his hand. Voices distracted him, and on the shore he saw a small crowd of people talking to the man renting the jet skis. He raised his wrist and squinted at this watch. It was already mid-morning. He stretched and yawned. As he got up from his bed Sakaki decided each night he would be out on the balcony, a thought that seemed welcoming. It was better than listening to Michael's noises. With eyes barely open, he rolled up his blankets and sheets in a pile and set them just inside the sliding glass door. Still in a sleepy stupor he trudged to the bathroom and turned on the shower.
"Motherfuckinshit!" were the words angrily emitted from Amon's mouth as he was rudely doused by the cold water from the showerhead. He was struggling to get up, all tangled in his blankets and comforter, shielding himself with his arms and hands from the rush of cold water on his person. The water stopped. There Amon stood completely drenched, droplets dripping from his hair, torso and boxers, little flesh-colored pieces of foam sticking out of his ears. He said nothing else. He just stood there staring at Sakaki like a snake in a coiled position ready to strike. Sakaki was stunned at the speed Amon seemed to jump at him wet hands aiming at his throat. He was definitely awake now.
"Amon! Amon! Wait! I didn't mean to effin' spray you…." Sakaki tried to explain as the senior hunter's fingers grasped around his neck. With Sakaki's back to the bathroom wall, Amon continued a menacing hold with rage in his narrowed eyes, slowly banging Sakaki's head against the bathroom wall in between every word. "I-barely-got-some-sleep-with-that-freakin'-motor-going-on-out-there!" he managed to almost gurgle out, referring to Michael. Amon finally felt he made his point quite clear. His fingers desisted and he calmly removed them with a heavy sigh, realizing they actually were in the same boat.
"That felt good." Amon commented. Sakaki gave him an incredulous look as the senior Hunter continued. "Where did you sleep?" Amon asked, stepping back from him, taking a towel from the rack and trying to dry off a bit.
"I rolled the bed out on the balcony.…It's not too bad," Sakaki admitted, rubbing the front of his neck thankfully, then quickly washing the bird excrement from his hair and face in the sink. Amon raised an eyebrow and nodded slightly admitting to himself that it was quite innovative of the rookie.
"Something must be done. There is no possible way we can get ample rest with all that incessant snoring." Amon stated rubbing his eyes, "We need to make sure he sleeps sitting up," he continued.
A very irritated Michael appeared at the entrance of the bathroom door.
"Damn you guys! Can you keep it down? I'm trying to get some sleep!" He was holding is forehead, eyes squinting without the use of his glasses.
Sakaki and Amon looked at each other momentarily. Amon grabbed an unwilling Michael in a wrestling hold with his arms pinned behind him and he half dragged the hacker into the tub, kicking out the tangle of blanket and bedspread. Sakaki turned on the shower. A cold blast of water seemed to fully awaken the incredulous screaming Michael, jeans and all. Amon quickly dumped Michael on the floor of the tub and raced out the door with Sakaki. Both smirking hunters listened just outside the bathroom door as Michael was shouting some expletives, yet had no choice but to shower.
"""""""""""""
Michael walked out of the bathroom a towel around his waist, freshly showered but none too happy about how the whole event was started. Removing a pair of sopping wet jeans was difficult sober, but close to impossible when one has a hangover the size of the Atlantic Ocean. He was silent as he took his toothbrush, and some clothes, then shot Sakaki a look of contempt and went back to the bathroom to finish up. Sakaki smirked as he flipped through the channels of the television on the remote. Michael finally strutted out of the bathroom, hair combed and with a new set of clothes.
"How's stud-muffin feeling this morning?" Sakaki teased. Michael flipped him off.
"Screw you, Haruto!" he shot.
"No, actually its more like screw you," Sakaki said referring to Michael's hot tub escapade from the previous night.
"It's not my problem you left," Michael concluded.
Just then Amon slowly opened the sliding glass door and stuck his head in. Both young men quieted themselves as he glanced at Sakaki, then at Michael. With his ever serious look, he stared at the hacker and beckoned him with his fingers to join him on the balcony without saying a word, as if on a hunt.
"Sucks to be you," Sakaki called out to Michael.
"You only wish it did!" Michael yelled back with a smirk as he stepped outside.
He closed the door. Amon was sitting in one of the patio chairs. Michael pulled up another one to join him. He sat, waiting for Amon to begin the lecture. Amon leaned forward towards him.
"Michael, are you aware that the legal drinking age in Florida is twenty-one years?" Amon asked sternly. Michael knew, but his head throbbed, his stomach in knots, he was not in the mood for this.
"Yes, I know," Michael rebelliously answered. He was still fuming from the tub stunt.
"Do you realize you have placed this hotel's drinking establishment in jeopardy should the authorities find out they served alcohol to a minor?" Amon chided.
"Amon, believe me….I didn't buy anything…I didn't order anything…The girls were the ones who kept giving the drinks to me," he said holding his forehead, with his elbows on the tabletop.
"Yes, and I'm sure they threatened you with life and limb to drink them….What did you talk about? Did you tell them who we were? What we did?" Amon's voice was scathing as he waited for Michael's answer.
There was a pause. Michael pushed his glasses up on his nose and managed a smile. "I did tell them that I was an agent," Amon's eyes narrowed as Michael continued; "I told them I worked for…..the C.I.A." Relief poured over Amon at the hacker's nutty response. "Of course they didn't seriously believe me and just thought I was trying to be cute," Michael shamelessly admitted, still holding his head protectively.
"So you didn't disclose anything… Not even in the hot tub?" Amon wanted to clarify.
"No…not much talking went on in there," Michael replied with a faraway look in his eyes and slightly smiled with what appeared to be pride.
Amon leaned back in his chair, "Michael…" he said with a knowing look in his face, shook his head slowly, hoping he took obvious precautions.
"Seriously, we just drank….and stuff," Michael answered. Seeing Amon's raised eyebrow, he felt compelled to say more, "It was ALL legal… except the drinking part," Michael confessed, "Then we took the party back to their room," Michael paused, hand on his forehead to shield the blinding sun from his eyes.
"And you still didn't disclose anything there?"
"Well…..once again-," Michael began; he closed his eyes and rubbed his temples.
"Let me guess…more drinking and…stuff?" Amon added. Michael nodded slightly.
"Actually, a couple had laptops with them for school and we played on those awhile…and stuff," Michael admitted, still rubbing his temples.
"I never realized you were such a wild man, Michael," Amon stated with a smirk.
"Neither did I," Michael revealed, with a little grin on his face.
Somehow Amon knew Michael had no regrets on the secret "stuff" that transpired the night before. Michael's quiet unassuming ways probably enabled the girls to trust him. Amon smiled to himself and was actually glad the hacker lived it up a little after being cooped up in Raven's Flat. For Michael, he wouldn't really have the opportunity to meet people there. Amon imagined it might even be a little lonely. He really should have cut him just a little slack, but Amon wasn't very comfortable with his underage drinking, even though he may have participated in that same activity when he was about the same age as Michael. Somehow it was different when he was doing the supervising. Already under his watch, Doujima could have had a battery charge against her. The teenagers, it seemed were on walking heavily on thin ice.
"Amon, I'm not stupid. I know, I got carried away…I'm sorry… Are we done?" he asked in obvious pain.
"For my purposes, yes…Take some Advil and nurse your stomach with a chocolate shake," he told Michael.
"Voice of experience?" Michael asked looking at Amon from the corner of his eye.
"Perhaps," he responded and stood up and opened the sliding glass door to step inside.
Michael also walked into the room. Doujima, Robin, and Karasuma were in there already, having a pillow fight with Sakaki who had yet to put on his shirt.
"Get dressed already, Haruto!" Karasuma requested.
"Yeah, cover up that torso you call a body!" Doujima jibed.
"Don't you talk to me about covering stuff up, Doujima," Sakaki ribbed. As Michael walked by, Sakaki couldn't help himself, "Hey slut-puppy!" Sakaki called out. Michael ignored him. Amon shot him a warning with narrowed eyes.
"Slut puppy?" Robin asked, but getting an inkling that it wasn't a very charming phrase, "What's that?"
All turned to Sakaki who felt forced to explain the raunchy word, but thought better of it. "Aw…It's nothing, Robin."
"Could you guys not talk so loud, please," Michael requested, grimacing as he held his head with one hand and grabbing an Advil bottle with the other.
"What's up with Michael?" Doujima asked in a low voice. Sakaki wanted so much to disclose Michael's "naughty side" and get some wicked teasing to take place, but he already tested those waters earlier. By the look Amon gave him, it was a crystal clear no.
He was suddenly reminded of the throat throttling incident earlier that morning.
"We all had trouble sleeping," Amon explained.
"Really? Why?" Doujima pressed.
"Well Michael actually—" Sakaki began.
"Snores too much," Michael cut Sakaki off.
It was left at that. But the girls could tell there were some tense undercurrents brewing.
"Well, all the good jet-skis will be rented out by now if we don't get ourselves down there," Karasuma warned. "So I suggest you get dressed and meet us downstairs in the lobby." She turned to look at Amon, who was, after all, the one in charge. "Sound good to you?"
"Yes." He answered and the party once again split to let the men change into water-worthy attire.
"""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
IMBSA: Oh, I'm not creative right now….I have a massive headache (no, it's not a hangover, contrary to popular belief), so my apologies if I seem too…pissed at the world.
Prospero053223: Interesting concept, but not in this story….Yet. We might use it. Maybe. We're still deciding.
Prozacfairy: You know Doujima was bound to get into one the moment she got in the States. And….:tilts head: Why was I being sneaky again?
Sakaki's Girl: Oh well. We planned from the beginning to put the fight in. Doujima's just that way….Hope the chapter title didn't give it all away this time. And is there any contestation over why Sakaki didn't say anything like that, hm?
Lady Azura: We don't know what she's gonna do to him either. But whatever it is, Sakaki's in on it too. Thank you for the praise and honor of being a favorite of yours.
ooOAnimeChildOoo: YOU NEVER TOLD ME YOU WROTE IN FMA! I love FMA and I love all the stories I've read of yours! It's my current obsession too! Oh, and yeah. Robin! Go girl!
jainen-black: Well, he's already screwed since, as Prospero so eloquently, Zaizen will have his ass when all this is over.
To Siberian Tigress, konfizkate91, and m-girls, thank you for your reviews and faithful reading!