Chapter Fourteen: Red. Wedding
Scarlet's wedding took place on the private island of Niihau, Hawaii. General Hawk had often travelled to the island for private hunting excursions and was granted access to one of the beaches for the wedding ceremony by the isle's owners, the Robinson's. It was a very small group that attended: the Alpha Team, Roadblock's team (Roadblock's daughters were the flower girls), Jinx and Erebus, General Hawk and his family, along with Fenris. The chaplain and most of the bridal party had already assembled in a temporarily constructed gazebo on the white shoreline, clear blue water beat against the sand in lazy strokes.
The locals of the island weren't in attendance nor the Robinson's themselves; Niihau was largely a rural island with not many amenities or phone service, roughly 130 people inhabited the island and most were farmers. The Joes didn't want to attract too much attention from tour groups or helicopters that might pass by.
Ripcord was leaning against the one of the posts, yanking off his tie and twisting it around in his hands. Duke heaved a sigh and grabbed the tie, shoving it deep into his pocket and pulling him into a straighter position. Duke glanced down the isle at the small group moving around Scarlet, catching Fenris's eye as she gave him the thumbs up. Duke grinned and nodded, giving Doc a whistle as she signalled the small group of violinists.
Scarlet wore a pearl white, sleeveless A-line gown with a sheer overlay of red glitter and embroidered rose petals. No train, and the veil stopped short of her shoulders. Sedna had braided Scarlet's hair into a long braid, pinning it on top of her head with a few loose strands hanging on either side of her face.
Roadblock's daughters skipped down the aisle first, tossing rose petals into the wind and upon reaching the end, they raced to their father's side and whipped around to stare at the rest of the procession. Sedna glided down to the sand in a long white skirt with knee-high slits on both sides, a lilac blouse, and her long brown hair blew free save for a white hibiscus threaded behind her ear.
Snake Eyes, in full ninja attire, waited for the music cue as Fenris tweaked the tiara pinned on top of Scarlet's head, adorned with pebble-sized sapphires, for the last time. General Hawk stepped in beside Scarlet and held his arm out which she quickly took, breathing out slowly as Fenris moved beside Snake Eyes, trying not to flinch as he slipped his hand into hers.
"Everything is perfect, Scarlet." Fenris said, blushing. "You're gorgeous, really."
"As long as I don't start crying," she mumbled, squaring her shoulders and raising her head high.
"And if you do, they'll be happy tears."
Fenris nodded encouragingly, facing forward and walking in tandem with Snake Eyes. For a few moments, Fenris was aware that the body language she was putting out totally confirmed what everyone else was already thinking – that the two of them were finally a couple. Jinx and Erebus both had varying expressions of smug satisfaction, the former actually a surprise to Fenris considering she always assumed Jinx had something for Snake Eyes.
Fenris wore a straight midnight blue dress that hid the scars on her legs, it had at least one sleeve to hid the nasty wound on her shoulder, and she managed to get away with not wearing shoes. Snake Eyes squeezed her hand and subtly tilted his head back, the two of them took their places and Fenris bit her lip to stop smiling.
There was Scarlet, dabbing futilely at her eyes as she and General Hawk drifted into the sunlight, out from under the canopy. Ripcord's face broke into the widest grin possible as Scarlet glided towards him. He apparently couldn't see the tears on her face as she laughed at his expression. The tempo of the music slowed as she climbed into the gazebo, General Hawk moved down and Scarlet removed the veil, taking Ripcord's hands in her own and giggling.
"Think you're ready for this, Fly Boy?"
"Baby, I've been ready for a while now."
The guests laughed and the chaplain cleared her throat loudly.
"Then let's get started before he wants a test drive, shall we? Dearly beloved…"
"Is it bad I half expected that scene from Princess Bride to go down? Because that would've been great."
"Rip, are you drunk?"
"Nah, man, I'm sober. Just…just picture it...And! And! Instead of the six-fingered man, we've got the one-armed man!"
Erebus groaned, sagging into his seat and hiding his face in his hands. Duke cupped a hand over his mouth and shut his eyes, his body already shaking with laughter as Ripcord downed a shot of something…probably hot sake. Scarlet was leaning on his shoulder nursing a headache from all the stress, and despite her closed eyes, her smile meant she was still very much awake.
"My name is Erebus Rex, you stole my arm, prepare to die!" Ripcord declared, reaching across the aisle and poking Erebus's arm.
"Rip…my name isn't "Rex", and someone needs to…say that to me." Erebus corrected, instantly regretting this as Ripcord craned his neck back and peered blearily at the rest of the occupants on the jet. He jerked a finger at Fenris as she stealthily attempted sleep on Snake Eyes's shoulder, bolting upwards with a yelp as Ripcord cheered.
"There! My name is Fenris of Asgard, you killed my father, prepare to die!"
"Uh…well, most of that is right." Fenris admitted, relaxing.
"My name is Fenris of Asgard, you killed my father, prepare to die!"
"Somebody knock him out before I do," Erebus growled. "Scarlet, please."
"Scarlet is sleeping, don't bother her." Sedna admonished, passing him a pair or earplugs.
"Like hell she is. I'm like Santa Claus: I see you when you're sleeping and she is not sleeping."
Fenris snorted, hiding her face in Snake Eyes's shoulder as Ripcord once again leaned across the aisle and declared he was Fenris of Asgard, Erebus killed his father, and he should prepare to die. Erebus groaned and smashed a pillow over his face, curling up and giving Ripcord his back and Sedna placed her ear plugs into her ears and reclined, wrapping herself in a blanket and waving goodnight.
Duke and Heavy Duty were up front piloting, listening to the commotion in the back as they flew back to base, hoping to sober up Ripcord before the raid on Cobra. Upon his fifth declaration, Doc meandered over to his seat and gently administered a sedative, returning to her own seat as Erebus shot her a grateful look.
"There's Doc's wedding gift for you, Scar, you'll need'em."
"This is a one-time thing; he won't be this drunk again."
"Not if Snake Eyes has anything to say about it," Erebus whispered, loud enough for the ninja to hear. Scarlet smiled and nodded in agreement, only for Erebus to shoot up and point at her.
"Aha! You aren't sleeping!"
Fenris and Snake Eyes, after a long flight home, washed up and ate before suiting up and boarding another plane – only this time Snake Eyes whipped out a katana and nearly cut down Erebus. Fenris lurched forward and grabbed the ninja around his waist as Erebus held his sole hand up in defense, angling his body in front of the much smaller person behind him. Snake Eyes lowered his weapon as Erebus eased into a seat, pulling a grumpy-looking Zanya down into the seat next to him. Her wrists were bound with coarse rope, she could get out at any time, and she had a few weapons strapped into her belt.
"Hawk's orders," Erebus said. "She's coming with us."
"I foresee issues with this arrangement." Fenris mumbled, guiding Snake Eyes to the window seat so she could separate the two of them.
"I don't like it either, OK? But it means I don't have to go see the UN, I'm stuck with your lot for life."
Fenris looked over at Erebus and he shrugged, idly drumming his fingers along the armrest. She knew for a fact that the scars on his face were likely Zanya's work, and the fact that the two of them were sitting next to each other without killing each other meant some other deal was struck. Fenris didn't like thinking about but for all intents and purposes, her issues had been with Zandar and Zarana and they were both dead. Storm Shadow and Jinx would likely have similar reactions to Snake Eyes when they found out, but Fenris hoped all parties would focus on the bigger picture, she certainly was trying.
Snake Eyes shook his head and pulled one of Fenris's hands into his lap, turning it face up and moving his finger along her palm.
"Are you OK with this?"
"Fine," she answered quietly. "Erebus can handle her. Has Hawk done this before?"
"Take in criminals? No. Sedna might have been in that bracket but she didn't go on a murdering spree."
Snake Eyes sighed audibly, squeezing her hand and angling his body so Zanya never left his sight. Erebus was leaning against the window, also watching Zanya but his expression was far less hostile than the entire aura Snake Eyes was putting off. Zanya was a variable no one was counting on, sure it might surprise Cobra but nothing said she wouldn't turn on them either. Fenris sighed. She looked over at Snake Eyes and waited until he turned his attention to her.
"Erebus, switch seats with me." Fenris rose up and backed up towards Zanya's seat, cocking her head back towards Erebus who rose an eyebrow.
"You sure?"
"I need you and Snake to be on you're A-game, I'll watch her."
"I'm right here, thanks, and I'm not a child."
"You're younger than everyone else on this plane, so yes, you kind of are." Fenris replied.
Erebus shrugged and moved to take Fenris's former seat and Snake Eyes shook his head, turning his view outside as Fenris sat down and reclined her seat back, watching Zanya unblinkingly.
"Oh what?" The younger girl snapped. "You fishing for an apology or something?"
"Nope." Fenris answered, extra emphasis on the "P" sound. "I had a feeling things would've worked out differently Cobra wasn't involved. You seemed awfully bored the entire time."
Zanya narrowed her eyes, slipping her wrists out of the knots and crossing her arms over her chest. Fenris grinned and turned onto her side, feeling a tad more superior as Zanya huffed and turned her face away.
"I mean, I thought you'd pit us all against each other, gladiator-style."
"I was seriously considering it." Zanya growled, shutting her eyes.
"Why didn't you do it then?"
"Is this an interrogation?" Zanya snarled.
"No."
"Then piss off."
Hello again.
One more chapter after this and then an epilogue because I'm eager to finish this story given all the other projects I've started. Thanks to those of you still reading.