Roars of engines were sounding on either side of him, but Scott was focused on the light in front of him, currently red, to keep everyone in the starting lines. Nova's arms were wrapped tightly around his waist securing herself in the seat behind him.
A quick glance to his left showed the Surfer behind the controls of his own racer, with Binary behind him. "You ready to eat our dust, Slim?" Binary was usually in the mood to be competitive. As was Scott, in their pseudo-sibling rivalry.
"If you can manage to find any after we leave you in ours, sure."
The course before them was filled with ambling mushroom-like creatures, giant piranha-like plants, and balls on chains that seemed more inclined to eat you than imprison you.
A short, chubby man with a large mustache, dressed in red and blue had sprung out onto the course, explaining the rules, and features of the holographic course. Several hovering cubes appeared above the race track, which seemed to contain items to either help a racer, or impede his opponents.
This all felt so juvenile and…well, video game-ish, but after promising to spend time with Nova, this had been her choice after their last mission. Still, Scott couldn't deny he was enjoying himself.
Binary had managed to keep Norrin busy elsewhere, leaving Scott all to Nova, even going so far as to 'accidentally' lose them in a crowd of people boarding a ride, and then being 'unable to locate' them afterwards.
She was likely having the time of her life knowing that Scott was flustered, being so close to Nova for so long.
Nova was positively elated. She hadn't had the chance to play video games in what felt like eons, and cheesy or not, she was enjoying it. She was also incredibly grateful to Binary, who had persuaded the Surfer not to avoid their day of fun. A glance to where the other two sat on their own vehicle showed that there was almost a truly life-like expression on his silver face. And everyone else seemed to be having fun, too.
The heroic-pirate life seemed to have rather nice perks.
Leaning in closer to Scott as the lights started to shift, Nova remarked in his ear, "Watch out, boss. Silverado logged a lot of hours in the Zenn-Lavian holo-arcades as youngin'… And B seems to have brought back his competitive streak."
"Arcade, schmarcade. This isn't some thought-controlled surfboard race." Scott had a slight grin on his face, despite the feigned flippant tone.
"Hey Surfer! Your shoe's untied."
Scott didn't actually expect it to work, as he hadn't even glanced at the Surfer, his nerves primed and ready, his racer kicking into motion the instant the light turned green. Being a few from the left, Scott had worked quickly to muscle his way to the inside of the track, forcing other racers to swerve into the sides and into the various creatures ambling around the course.
He and Nova were the first ones to reach the boxes, and colliding with one gave something to Nova, though he couldn't quite see what from his vantage. It was usually her job to deal with those unless they needed to switch for him to throw things given to him.
Nova laughed heartily, unwrapping one arm once they'd gotten their acceleration up, preparing herself for her end of the job. When they collided with the first square, she found herself with a turtle shell. It was promptly hurled at the bike that was creeping up behind them, and connected, sending the vehicle spinning off the raceway. Still looking over her shoulder, she saw Binary and Surfer taking out some of their own close competition, not really all that far behind, and gaining. "They're catchin' up, boss!"
If that was true, then he'd need something extra. The next round of boxes were coming up, and maneuvering just a bit, Scott collided with the one that had two boxes, giving them both something. He'd wound up with a mushroom – a speed booster, if he remembered correctly. A quick glances over his shoulder told him Nova had a red shell. That one could track other racers, and the one he'd seen approaching from behind on the right seemed a good target.
Watching Binary take out another racer, Nova had the feeling that as far as the arsenals went, there was a sort of truce between the Starjammer crew until the rest of the competition had been eliminated, so she sent the red shell after the racer that was in between them. It evaded briefly, but in the end, the shell got it.
Between her luck and Scott's excellent driving, it didn't take too long for it to be just them and their friends at the head of the pack, most of the others having been lapped at least once by the pirate crew. In celebration, Nova wrapped her arms more tightly around Scott in a pleased hug. "B just kicked the last competition underneath one of those plants…" she reported, "It's just us and them now, boss!"
Allowing himself only the briefest of moments to luxuriate in her affections, innocent as they were, Scott moved into his plan. "Good, so take over, and let me do the hard work for the last leg.
Scott had been saving his speed boost for a bit now, and coming on the finish line, he intended to use it. Quickly swinging around, he allowed Nova to slide into the driver's seat. "Just keep going, whatever happens."
Scott subtly twisted a knob on the side of his visor. Cheating? Gasp. Mister Summers. A tiny, pencil-thick beam lanced forward, angering, and gaining the attentions of a large piranha plant, which seemed intent on having them as lunch in return for the rude wake-up call.
"Just keep going," Scott whispered to Nova again. It was a stunt crazy even for a Starjammer, but he meant to see it work. Waiting until the last moment, right up until the plant had started lunging for their racer, Scott kicked in their boost, making the car spring forward, missing the plant narrowly, making the other racers behind them swerve out of the way, killing their momentum, allowing them to coast over the finish line at their leisure.
'Just keep going, whatever happens.' That was the kind of statement that couldn't be anything but unnerving. More unnerving was the suddenly vengeful plant. But Nova ducked her head down and floored it, keeping her eyes on the finish line that was fast approaching.
When their vehicle finally coasted to a stop, the former Herald was still in a fit of laughter. "Cheater!" she said in mock accusation, twisting around slightly to grin at him. She didn't seem too bothered by the fact, however, looking very pleased.
When Binary and the Surfer's vehicle coasted to a stop next to them, she broke off grinning at Scott, and slid off the bike, trotting over to the other pair.
The cheating hadn't bothered Scott much either, it was a harmless gag in between friends. Had there been other contenders in the race a bit closer behind them, then it would have been different.
"If I were less of a sore loser, I'dve found that funny," smirked Binary, approaching herself. "Is this finally an admission that our Fearless Leader is afraid of losing?"
"I'd call it more of an encouragement for you to do what it takes to get what you need," grinned Scott in turn.
"Right," smirked the blonde again, " just after I develop a mutant genome and sprout eye lasers…."
Norrin was less amused looking, but what was new there? Assuming his semi-dark look was directed at Scott over the cheating, Nova nudged him gently with her elbow. "Admit it, Silverado," she said softly, "You enjoyed the race." His white eyes flickered to her in acknowledgment, as much of a reply as she figured she was going to get. She tucked her arm around his, giving it a slight squeeze. "Thanks for hangin' out with us today."
Not wanting to drag it out, she released his arm and stepped away from him, moving closer to Scott and Carol again. "Next game, B, what say you and me take on the guys?"
"I don't know. They've got most of the moodiness of the team banked between them, and with no one to show off for….I doubt they could handle it." A gentle taunt for Carol.
Scott was surprised a bit at Surfer's somewhat nasty look tossed his way. He'd cheated a bit, but between friends…well, in Surfer's case, they were likely better classified as 'allies', that still was hardly case for a silent snarl.
He was having doubts about being on a speeder with Norrin Radd at the moment, anyhow.
Nova's grin broadened. "I saw a Laser Tag facility just down the way…" she remarked, then laughed. "See? I know how to pick my teammates. I'd never race against the boss, or try a shooting match against B… So what d'ya think, guys?"
Apparently she couldn't really see Norrin and Scott sharing a speeder, either.
Scott was game, and while Norrin tagged along, his heart seemed elsewhere, rather than defending the small base. Neither his or Scott's aim was poor, but when things amounted to Scott virtually alone….
Things were a little quieter after that game. Even B and Nova had noticed Norrin's icier silence, and there wasn't much room for the usual whooping over winning and taunting the losers.
"I think we've worn him out, B," Nova commented, eyeing the Surfer with a teasing grin. She could see something was bothering him, but assumed it just to be fun-overload. Or all the activity getting in the way of his brooding. Figuring it was time for a break, she suggested a quieter stroll through a merchandise-laden promenade. It didn't take too long for the Surfer to wander off, as she'd suspected he would. Not too long after that, she dragged Binary off herself, leaving Cyclops alone outside a female-oriented clothing shop to wait for them.
That was when the Surfer reappeared, melting out of the crowd of aliens and falling into place at Scott's side. "Do you intend to pursue a relationship with Nova?" he asked in a toneless, inflectionless voice. The blunt, lengthy (for him, lately) inquiry no doubt came as a surprise.
"I – what?!" That had come out of left field rather quickly. Did everyone know about his feelings for Nova except Nova? Naturally, he was a bit floored at the blunt question, quickly checking to make sure she wasn't around.
But naturally, he would never ask that sort of question if she were….at least he hoped.
"I – I…..I don't know." His shoulders slumped a bit. "God, I feel like a teenager."
"I know you two have…history together. It's just that after you left….and started pushing her away…" It was about as clear as Scott could be. He had never been good at expressing himself. He'd had to skip a few years growing up.
The pupil-less gaze scrutinized Scott while he spoke, and then settled somewhere in the distance as he began what was obviously a carefully considered speech. "It is because of that… history… that I advise you to consider your feelings carefully. If this is merely a passing infatuation then I suggest you do not pursue it." His tone had dipped, briefly, out of neutrality and into the realm of veiled threats before becoming neutral again, and a little quieter. "Nova is prone to… deep devotion. After Galactus' betrayal – and my own inability to return her feelings – another dismissal could be… damaging," he said, referring to the state she'd fallen into when Galactus had had her replaced. "I say this because I respect you, Cyclops. Although my feelings for Nova do not that way tend," he continued, in order to dispel any notions of jealousy, "I do care deeply for her. I could not rebuke Galactus for his treatment of her – he is an eternal cosmic entity. You are not." End of speech. Norrin fell silent again, his hopefully tactful threat having been made.
Scott was quiet for a moment. "She's lucky to have a friend like you. I respect what you've said, and I can promise you I share your concerns." He chuckled weakly. "I think…..I think with as long as I've tried to find a way to tell her, I think I am being genuine."
Nova was beautiful….and he was looking beyond the exotic form gifted her by Galactus. She'd never known, but her bright spirit and personality had kept him going more than a few times when things were rough.
Would an infatuation thrive on that sort of thing?
The sun was setting not long after that, and it made for a picturesque setting.
"Nova – Frankie. I've been meaning to tell you something for a long time, and have just kinda been waiting to figure out how…and when I should tell you. I like you. I care about you. More than as just a friend, I mean. I, uh, I'm not really very good at this, I just wanted to tell you how I felt."
"Short, but sweet."
Scott's blood froze, relaxing only slightly that it was Binary behind him in what he'd thought was an empty room. The Starjammers had been relaxing in a small suite of rooms for the day, he and Norrin in one, with Carol and Frankie in the other.
"You should lighten up, though. I know you're stuck on her, but the worst she can do is tell you she isn't interested, you get over it, and we all go on with our happy lives. Of course, I –am- speaking to Scott Summers, so the 'getting over it' part would take a long time, I suppose."
Scott nodded mutely. He was getting advice from all sides today, it seemed. He likely needed it. He was about the last person in the world to know how to handle women.
"I know it isn't going to be today, just tell her soon, huh Slim? I mean, treat it logically – there is the possibility she'd like a chance at something new rather than sighing over the good ole' days with the Silver Kahuna, and you're missing it by waiting like this."
Scott nodded again, sinking into a chair as Carol turned to leave.
"Thanks, B."