A/N: Hey people, sorry for the wait and thanks for the reviews!
Now I know there is some concerns about how Mandarin is currently treating Nova. Now a quick side note, he is not doing this just to be mean, he is doing it because the first time he saw her 'fire/anger' problems was probably really scary for him- so secretly prescribing medications to suppress such destructive powers is actually, in his defense, justifiable. Also he IS keeping it a secret from the rest of the team to prevent further humiliation. So Mandarin is not doing this just to be an asshole even though he IS harder on her then the others- he still sees her as a sister.
Just wanted to point that out. His nature is not to be cruel.
So with that explained, enjoy chapter 11!
FYI I'm burrowing a song for this chapter.
Chapter 11
Pretty Pretty Please
Chiro sat in the very back of the room, remaining invisible as he had the past few days. Thirty six hours ticked by since finding out Nova's secret. His stomach still knotted up at the idea that syringe needle lying under her bed. He could sense she stayed awake every night. Noticing things the others seemed to brush off or not take into account. Such as dark circles under eyes, her sluggish reactions, her constant tension, or her exhilarated temper. Every symptom was as clear as day. But the others, even Gibson, seemed to not take into account.
But the former human knew they were not doing this on purpose. The others actually did notice her apparent struggles. But Nova had unwillingly built up a firewall to keep viruses out. Viruses that she had believed to be her own brothers.
Chiro suspected this might have something to do with Mandarin keeping it a secret. He shook his head, despite the intended nature, Nova needed help. Help he was intent on giving, even if it cost him his last breath.
The timepiece of morrow seemed to be quiet lately. Or perhaps its owner was just too distracted to hear its slow ticks. Like a heartbeat, it just kept on going. It remained wound tightly under his warm scarf, out of sight and out of mind.
Today was starting out the same as previous days. He had waited for many hours, sometimes all night, for Nova to leave her room. Or give him some kind of indication she was going out to be alone. He'd watch from afar, keeping his distance. Mandarin would cut him the occasional warning look while everyone else –minus Otto- ignored him.
Except Antauri. His constant staring had unnerved Chiro. Even when the younger simian was alone in an empty room, he could still feel the wise monkey's eyes watching him. As if spying on him with the power primate. But he couldn't focus on his father figure at the moment.
It was until the final stroke of midafternoon he finally received a break. Hiding near the med-bay, he heard Nova enter the control room.
All the males stopped their tasks to look in the slightly bigger female's direction. Her blood shot eyes screamed exhaustion, but she covered it up with her everyday angry scowl. She made no eye contact with her brothers. She walked past them and made her way to the monitor. She paused and looked up.
"I'm heading out." She answered bluntly. As if she was just talking to herself.
Chiro perked up on this unexpected turn of events. He knelt forward to get a better position on the conversation.
Sprx turned away from polishing his magnets. "Would you like some company?" He quirked his eyebrow in a subtle flirtatious manner.
The bigger female didn't even notice the advancement. "No."
Antauri frowned. "Well in that case, please be safe Nova. I'd feel more comfortable if you'd return before midnight tonight."
"Fine." She answered bluntly. Feeling like a child when their second in command spoke like he was her mother or something. Ugh that annoyed her so much, but she didn't show it. Antauri was one of the few that didn't deserve her anger. So she just avoided him. Everyone else received either the silent treatment or a scorching hot stare.
"Where you going anyways?" Mandarin chimed in. His arms crossed and look stern.
Nova refrained from eye contact. The source of her pissed of rage made her fur crawl. She grinded her teeth till sparks flew out. "I'm just going out, do I need to write a thesis on it?" She turned to face the male.
Mandarin dipped his head, eyes squinting tighter. "I trust you 'cooled off' before going out?"
Nova's rage simmered down as she looked away. She moved her arm to show a small needle mark scarring her side. "Yes, I cooled down. So don't worry there is not going to be a fire hazard by just a simple walk."
Mandarin nodded in approval at her 'proof'. "Then have fun, don't stay out to long or Antauri will be smothering me to come find you like he always does. Got it?"
Nova nodded and finally broke free of the imaginary reins holding her back. She swung her tail and boxed the nearby lever. The exit swooshed open, granting her freedom from the suffocating space. The moment the latch shut, she ran off like a bird in blazes. Running away from gazes of meek peers.
As she darted around a corner, she ran right smack into someone. She wobbled but remained on her feet. Regaining her composure quick enough to hear a loud thud and 'Oof'. Looking down, she spotted a familiar set of blue eyes looking up from the dirt.
"Chiro?" she asked surprised. "What the hell- did you follow me?" Her eyes narrowed with a vein protruding over her right temple.
"Wait wait," He waved his hands. He shot to his feet quick to blow out the flame before it reached the bomb. "I just heard you were going for a walk and I just wanted to join you!" He smiled stupidly, praying her fist didn't transform. "I have been cooked up for many days, I just wanted fresh air. Can I please come with you?"
The red hue burning on her face faded as she deflated like a woopy cushion. He massaged her temples to sooth her pounding cranium. Those big blue puppy dog eyes staring up at her. "Okay okay you can come with me." She crossed her arms. "But only for a little while, I came out here to get some alone time and I intend to get it. Capeche?"
Chiro nodded. "Got it, don't worry I promise I'll be out of your fur." He followed the gold simian as she already started walking away.
They walked in silence for a few minutes. Chiro twiddled his thumbs as he glanced at her. His blue eyes went up and down her powerful frame. Till he spotted the small puncture wounded on her side. He frowned at that. He opened mouth, but quickly closed it. Speaking of it may not be the wisest thing to do.
As they walked, the sun started to set. Once the stars started to awaken, colorful lights flared over the horizon. Curious, both monkeys stepped towards the projected lights. The closer they got, sounds of cheering deafened their antenna ears.
There before them stood a stadium housing thousands of citizens. Music rocketed over the crowd as a band of robots banged on many musical instruments. The music genre clearly heavy metal as they screamed and bobbed their head wildly. The people mirrored the band's movements as they waved their hands.
Nova's eyes widen. "No way, Metal-Scream.88 is my favorite band!"
Chiro blinked in surprise. "You like music?"
"Of course! Well, not really heavy metal but Metal-Scream is well known for other stuff." She ran past him. "Come on let's go!"
Chiro shot up and ran after her. He grunted from his healing side. He decided to power walk, half limp, after the blazing female instead.
Both simians maneuvered their ways through the forest of legs. Eventually finding their ways to the front of the crowd. Their much smaller status providing cover from the other citizens' distracted eyes. At the bottom, by a miracle, they both found an empty seat.
Nova hopped up fist and invited Chiro to sit next her. The seat was barely big enough for both of them, but it worked fine.
The band got much louder as they rocked the stage. Chiro covered his ears as Nova raised her hand and banged her head up and down. Following the crowd's example. "Oh yea!" she yelled over the screaming fans. "When I went for a walk I didn't expect to be going to a badass concert!"
Chiro cracked an unpleasant smile. He sighed as he covered his ears and waited. But Nova's smile didn't slip past his line of focus. He titled his head, this was the first time he had seen her genuinely smile. He scratched his chin as his cybernetic brain began to contemplate.
As the minutes ticked into hours, the band's loud music decreased in volume. As Chiro anticipated the next song, thunder ran through the dark skies. Lightning flashed as rain started to drizzle. Though it remained in small drops, it was enough to short circuit the robots.
The crowd booed as some mechanics rushed onto the stage. Nova's smile faded as she watched the humans tinker with the out cold robots. "How could just a little rain cause this? They still had a few more songs to go."
"We're sorry folks." One heavy set man with a belly length red beard answered. "It appears we're having a malfunction with the band. I'm afraid we're going to cancel the remaining few songs."
The crowd fell silent as Chiro sighed in relief. "Thank god," he murmured under his breath. "Eh to bad, come on we can come back-" He fell silent upon the disappointment painting his companion's eyes. "Nova?" He gently poked. "Are you okay?"
She looked down sadly. "Yea I'm alright. It's just, things like this always tend to happen."
Chiro frowned. "It's just bad weather, we can come back next time."
She shook her head. "No no its okay, it's just…" She shook her head. "Yea we can come later maybe, sorry for dragging you out here Chiro. Let's go home."
A small nerve melted his spirits at the heart stabbing look she gave. Scratching his chin, he looked back up the stage. "Hang on I think I dropped something behind stage, wait here. I will be right back." He ran off before she could stop him.
Nova sighed in annoyance but stayed put. Watching the crowd begin to disperse.
Chiro snuck past the chattering men removing the malfunctioning robots from stage. Looking up, he spotted the instruments still laying against the wall. Looking to the left, he approached the power box. He sighed. "Aw man I am so not going to like this, but for Nova, I must do it." He began rewiring the circuits by reattaching them to new slots and drying out wet ones.
Once it was done, he swallowed hard. Grabbing one of the nearby guitars, he looked up to the dark thundering sky. "Please to Shuggazoom don't let me get electrocuted OR humiliated." He paused. "Actually the humiliation part is inevitable, so here we go."
As the disappointed citizens flocked towards the exit, lights flashed behind them. All head snapped around to face the stage. There standing beneath orange and white lights was a blue eyed black simian wearing a strange orange scarf. He posed with legs apart and guitar rested snuggly against his chest.
Nova gawked. "What the hell- Chiro!?"
'Now or never,' he winced and gently ran his metal digits over the strings. Starting out in a slow melody. He started out slow and sang the first lyrics that popped into his mind. His eyes met Nova who was staring in utter shock at him.
"Made a wrong turn
once or twice
dug my way out
blood and fire
Bad decisions
That's alright
welcome to my silly life.."
He picked up the beat. Swing his tail and hitting a nearby button, the drums started to go. He kept all eyes on Nova as the crowd began to return to their seats.
Mistreated, Misplaced
Misunderstood
Miss"No way its all good"
it didn't slow me down
Mistaken
Always second guessing
Underestimated
look I'm still around.."
He closed his eyes as the crowd became entranced with his young voice.
"Pretty, pretty please
don't you ever, ever feel
like you're less than
less than perfect
pretty,pretty please
don't you ever,ever feel
like you're nothing
you are perfect… to me."
Nova's eyes widen. She stood up from her seat to get closer to the singing simian. The crowd watching intently. He picked the next words carefully as he kept his entire focus on his burdened teammate.
"You're so mean (you're so mean)
when you talk (when you talk)
about yourself
but you were wrong
Change those voices (change those voices)
in your head(in your head)
Make them like you instead."
He slowed the music down, giving the crowd and Nova an opportunity to hear him better.
"So complicated
look how big you'll make it
filled with so much hatred
Such a tired game
It's enough I've
done all I can think off
chased down all my demons
see you do the same."
He paused, letting the crowd fall into anticipation. Nova tightened his kneecaps as her mouth fall agape. Amazed at how well he could sing. But the lyrics seemed to flow through her, as if he was speaking right to her.
"Pretty, pretty please
don't you ever, ever feel
like you're less than
less than perfect
Pretty, pretty please
If you ever,ever feel
like you're nothing
you are perfect to me."
He started to really get into the music. Nova started bobbing her head side to side as the smile returned to her face.
"The whole world stares
while I swallow the fear
the only thing i should
be drinking is an
ice cold beer
so cool in lying
and we try, try, try
But we try to hard and it's
a waste of my time
Done looking for the critics
cause there everywhere.
String ourselves and we do it all the time
Why do we do that
why do i do that
(why do i do that)
Yeeaahhh (ohhh ohhhhhh)
Oh pretty, pretty please"
Then Nova did something she was not expecting. He swung his hand out and grabbed her wrist. He hauled her up next time. There he tossed her a base guitar as flashed her a big grin.
Nova looked hesitant, but his probing gaze caused her to start strumming the instrument. It started out shaky, but soon she grinned and began playing alongside the younger simian. Chiro grinned as he spun the electric guitar around, pointing to the crowd.
"Pretty, pretty please
don't you ever, ever feel
like you're less than
Less than perfect
Pretty, pretty please
don't you ever, ever feel
Like you're nothing
Less then Perfect."
Then he turned and slowed the music to a stop. His eyes drooping with a warm smile greeting Nova as he whispered in a softer tone.
"Because you are perfect, to meee."
The crowd erupted into a joyful tantrum. They clapped and screamed for encores as Chiro and Nova hooked their arms together and bowed. They grinned at each other as they waved to the applaudes.
~Forty Five Minutes Later
Nova and Chiro walked side by side. She laughed. "Wow I have to admit Chiro you can really sing! Where did you learn to do that?"
"Video games." He answered slyly with his arms craned behind his head. Flashing her a boisterous smile.
Nova chuckled at the simple answer. "Well whichever, you impressed me."
Then everything grew quiet as Nova stopped walking. Chiro stopped and threw her a concerned look. "Nova?"
She paused before looking up to him. "I'm so sorry for the way I treated you from before."
This threw him off guard. "What do you mean? It was fun, no need to thank me!"
"It wasn't the song Chiro." She answered softly. "You did something so kind for me when all I have done is treat you bad… what you did, the gesture, it touched my heart." Looking both ways, she sighed. Apologizing and softness was not really her thing. "Um, could we perhaps let bygones be bygones and… start again?" She offered her hand to shake.
Smiling, he took her hand in an equally strong grip. "I'd love nothing more than to start again. So hello, I'm Chiro."
"And I'm Nova." She grinned and shook his hand.
A/N: Well was that not the sweetest thing ever done? Singing to Nova in front of a huge crowd, that takes some guts.
I know the song 'pretty pretty please' was sung by a woman, but it was the best lyrics that I thought fit Nova best.
So anyways, thanks for reading, review please and have a nice night!
P.S. Sorry for grammar mistakes, I was too lazy to re-check this.
