Yet Another Move: Part 5
LeaMarie F. Rocket
Disclaimer: I don't own 'em. I wish I did. There'd be more episodes and umm...I'd be making enough money that I wouldn't need to take out student loans.
Nosedive came into the kitchen looking like death warmed over. "Morning."
Duck looked up from his coffee. "You look like you got a lot of sleep."
"Yeah, I was up late thinking."
"Some one write that on a calendar! Nosedive was thinking!" Canard exclaimed sarcastically.
Nosedive sent a silent glare at Canard. Duke smiled at the restraint that Nosedive was showing.
"What were you thinking about?" Duke asked.
"Lea."
"Yes?" Lea muttered, stumbling into the kitchen.
"Careful there!" Duke exclaimed, watching Lea catch herself on the table. "Are you ok?"
"Yeah, fine. I'm just half asleep," Lea said lowering herself into a chair.
"I'm amazed at how well you two conducted yourselves last night," Canard said as he pored himself a cup of coffee.
"Please, I had too! I grew up with that kind of stuff. If I hadn't been well behaved we'd be getting bomb-barbed with phone calls right now with people scolding me," Lea said, rolling her eyes.
"I always behave!" Nosedive announced. Several snickers could be heard. "What?"
"Two words for ya, Ready Whip," Duke said, smiling.
"That one time!"
"Shrink wrap," Lea said, smiling fondly at Dive.
"Well sorry, if I'm not as sophisticated as you!" Nosedive snapped, storming out of the room.
A pause filled the room. Lea turned to Duke shock and hurt clearly written across her face. "I was just teasing him! I didn't mean it!"
Duke nodded his head. "Me too. However, he did say that he didn't sleep well. Just give him some space."
Lea nodded her head. "Ok."
"I've got some stuff I need to do," Canard said leaving the room. It only took a couple of seconds for Canard to catch up to Nosedive. "You know, not that I care, but you did make what's-her-name cry."
"I did?" Nosedive asked looking surprised.
"Yeah, then Duke told her that she was better off to forget about you. As I was leaving I heard her agree with him. She's only a piety friend."
"I know you're lying!" Nosedive snapped.
"Am I? You know you were pretty mean back there. She probably hates your guts right about now."
"Liar!" Nosedive yelled launching himself at Canard. Canard was able to backhand Nosedive sending him into a wall. Dive pulled himself up and tackled Canard, pushing him into a table. The resounding crash brought the team running in.
"What's going on?" Wildwing demanded.
"Nosedive just attacked me!" Canard cried out indignantly.
"You lying sack of-"
"Nosedive! Go to your room!" Wildwing ordered.
"But he-"
"NOW! "
"Fine!" Nosedive screamed, once again leaving the room in silence.
Lea pulled herself together and ran after him. "Dive!"
"Just leave me alone!" He snapped.
"Dive," Lea said softly.
"Just go AWAY I don't want to hear it!"
"Please!"
"NOW!"
Tears welled up in Lea's eyes. "FINE! If you want me to go away that I will!" Lea yelled running off.
"Wing, you've got to do something about your brother! He's going to end up getting hurt or worse," Canard insisted.
Wildwing sighed. "I know, but what can I do?"
"Start disciplining him! Start giving him chores! He's got too much free time and too much energy."
"Ok, I'll make up a list of things that need to be done."
"Good!" Canard exclaimed, smiling.
Wildwing looked up to see Mallory shaking her head. "What?"
"Nothing."
"Mallory, I know that isn't a nothing look. Now what is it?"
"If you don't know, I'm not telling you!" Mallory said walking away.
"Wow, that's one I haven't heard," Wildwing said, looking confused. "What was she talking about?"
"No clue," Canard said quickly.
Wildwing shrugged and pulled out a piece of paper and started writing chores on it.
Duke had been searching for Lea and he finally found her on the Pond's roof.
"Kitten? You alright?"
"Just peachy," Lea responded looking out over the city.
"Don't worry thing will blow over," Duke gently told her.
"Part of this is my fault," Lea said not moving to face him. Duke grabbed her shoulders and turned her to face him.
"No, it's not."
"Nosedive's wanted to talk to me but we just haven't."
"What do you have to talk about? Haven't you two been?"
"No. Duke, we kissed," Lea said softly.
"You and Dive kissed?" Duke asked.
"Yeah, last night before the dinner," Lea's voice was gentle. "He'd stormed in the room, ticked at Wildwing and Canard again, and I went to talk to him and while we were talking..." Lea's voice trailed off. "I NEED to talk to Dive. We need to sit down and talk this out." Tears started to stream down her face. "But he told me to leave him alone."
Duke pulled her into a hug. "Just give him a little space right now. Try talking to him later tonight, ok?"
Lea nodded her head and pulled herself away from Duke. "Thank you, Duke. I think I'm going to go for a walk. I'll be back later."
"Ok, be careful, alright?"
"I will."
Nosedive sat in his room staring at Lea's bed. "I may not have made her cry when Canard said I did, but I did make her cry. She probably hates me now There's really no reason she shouldn't. Ever since yesterday I've been cold towards her. I really screwed up this time. Plus, Canard got the better of me. I shouldn't have attacked him. But he deserved it! Now Wildwing's mad at me to. This day just keeps getting better and better."
A knock at the door brought him back to reality. "Enter!" The door opened to reveal Canard. "EXIT!" Wildwing walked in a second later.
"Dive, we've decided that it's time you were given more responsibility around here. So, Canard and I made up a list of things for you to do around the Pound," Wildwing said as he handed the list over.
"Clean the Migrator, take out the trash, clean the bathroom, wash the dishes? Wing, this is a list you'd give to a little kid. I'm not doing it!"
"Then you'll be in your room until you will."
"You're perma-grounding me?" Nosedive shrieked. "That's so not fair!"
"It's for your own good," Wildwing stated.
"You're not Dad!" Nosedive screamed.
"No, I'm not. But here I am your guardian so get use to it." With that he walked out.
"If you ask me, you got off easy."
"Well, I didn't! So get out!"
Canard left the room with the biggest smirk on his face that Nosedive had ever seen.
"Great, wonderful. I'm not only grounded but I've got a ton of chores! Plus the girl I like hates me." There was another knock at the door. "Who is it?" Nosedive yelled in annoyance.
" US!" Duke and Mallory said walking in.
"We heard the news," Mallory told him.
"Let's see the list," Duke said holding out his hand. Dive handed the horrid sheet of paper over. "Clean, the Migrator? Isn't that Tanya's job?"
"It use to be," Mallory muttered, glancing over Duke's shoulder. "I think Canard had a hand in writing this."
"Wildwing said as much," Dive muttered.
"Have you and Kitten talked yet?" Duke asked changing the subject.
"She talked to you?"
"Well, yeah, she was pretty upset this morning. She said that you two needed to talk."
"Yeah, we need to," Nosedive admitted looking at his hands.
"What ever you two need to talk about I'm sure you'll work it out," Mallory said smiling. "You guys seem to really like each other."
Nosedive smiled at her. "I do really like her."
Mallory rolled her eyes but smiled at him. "Like we couldn't tell? You two haven't stopped flirting with each other since day one!"
The doors suddenly opened and Wildwing walked in. "What are you guys doing in here?"
"I'll catch you guys later," Mallory said walking out.
"Ok, what did I do that pissed her off so much that she won't even talk to me?"
"Did you perma-ground her?" Nosedive asked.
"Kid," Duck warned. The to Wildwing "I honestly couldn't tell ya,"
"I'll figure it out later. Any way, Nosedive, I don't want us to keep fighting. What has you so upset that you're even snapping at Lea?"
"Like you care."
"I'm going to go," Duck announced leave as quickly as he could.
"Dive, I do care! I'm your brother!"
"So that's the only reason!" Nosedive yelled, standing up. "You have spent ZERO time with me, you've only talked to me so you could yell or punish me for something that you won't even listen to me about! Gee, I wonder why I'm in a bad mood."
"You've been acting up! Becoming violent, and smart mouthed!"
"Yet notice the only one who doesn't know why is YOU!"
Wildwing stepped back in surprise. "Well maybe if you'd TALK to me!"
"Don't you think I've tried? God, Wildwing THINK about it for once! Oh, what's the use? You'll never understand!" Nosedive stormed out of the room leaving a stunned Wildwing behind him. "No one here cares," Nosedive thought sadly to himself. "I doubt they'd even notice if I just left."
Nosedive was so caught up in his thoughts that he didn't notice that he'd wandered out of the Pond and into the street, until he felt some one pull him back.
"Nosedive!" Lea yelled at him. "What in L-sama's name were you doing?"
Nosedive blinked when the realization that he'd just walked out into the busy street hit him he sat on the ground. "Oh, God! I can't believe I just did that!"
Lea sat next to him. "Are you ok?" She asked softly.
"Considering I was on the Road Kill Cafe's menu? Just fine."
"I meant, what had you so preoccupied that you'd walk out into he street like that?"
"Aren't you supposed to be angry with me?"
Lea smiled sadly. "I wasn't angry, I was hurt."
"I didn't mean too," Nosedive said looking at his hands.
Lea's hand covered his. "I know. And that's why I'm not angry."
"Thanks."
"Come on, I think it's time to talk."
"I'm grounded."
"So? Leave your com here and let's go!" Lea exclaimed. "I'll take the blame."
Nosedive chucked. "Alright." He took off his com and hid it behind a garbage can.
"Where are we going?"
"A little café that I found one night. I think you'll like it," Lea responded and grabbed his hand.
"She doesn't hate me!" Nosedive happily thought to himself. Nosedive was so wrapped up in his thoughts that he almost didn't notice that Lea had stopped in front of a run down building.
"Is this it?"
"I know it doesn't look like much but trust me, it's nice on the inside."
Nosedive nodded and followed Lea in. Lea giggled as Nosedive's mouth dropped.
The inside of the café was dimly lit but enough light went through to show the dark reds and blacks of the room. The were fluffy couches and over stuffed chairs scattered around the room. There were also many circular tables placed through out the room. At one end of the room was a bar that where orders were placed.
"Welcome back, LeaMarie-sama," A young man behind the bar said, smiling.
"Thanks, Kohoku-kun. This is Nosedive Flashblade. He's special to me, so take care of him."
"Of course, LeaMarie-sama. Is there anything I can get you?"
"An English toffee Cappuccino would be great. How about you Dive?"
"I'll have the same."
"I'll bring them to you right away."
Lea lead Dive to a small couch in the back.
"This place is really nice, how'd you find it?"
"I was out walking one night and it started to rain and I noticed it when I was looking for a phone."
"Cool."
Kohoku came with the mugs of cappuccino. "Arigato, Kohoku-kun." Lea took a sip of the cappuccino.
"Wing's gonna kill me."
"Only when we're caught."
"We?" Nosedive asked.
"Well, I am involved," Lea said smirking down at her cup.
"You don't have to be."
Lea's head snapped up. "Yes, I do. Nosedive I care more for you than I have for any in a long time." Lea sighed. "That's why I'm still here." Lea looked back down at her cup. "Besides that I made a promise to you."
Nosedive paused. "This is our chance to talk isn't it?"
Lea nodded her head.
"When I was Puckworld, I didn't really get a chance to be in a relationship. Unlike Wing and Canard I couldn't even talk to a girl up until I moved here. I don't know how to be in a relationship."
Lea smiled gently at him.
"Lea, what do I do?" Nosedive pleaded with her.
"This," Lea said motioning around her. "We hang out, go places, and most importantly we support each other."
"I-I want that." Nosedive swallowed hard. "LeaMarie, I care for you. A lot. You're really special to me. I want us to be together."
Lea smiled and took his hand. "So do I." The two sat in a comfortable silence until Kohoku came over to their table.
"LeaMarie-sama!"
"What's wrong?"
"They're coming back, you need to get your guest out of here."
"Arigato, Kohoku-kun. Take care of yourself, stay safe."
"I will, LeaMarie-sama. Please hurry."
"We will," Lea said standing up and pulling Dive out the door.
"Lea, what's going on?" Nosedive demanded.
"I'll tell you when we're safe. I promise."
"Ok." Nosedive noticed that Lea' eyes seemed to be violet again. Her eyes searched the area until they came to a small park. She sat down on a bench and motioned for Dive to sit next to her.
"Now will you tell me?"
"I've made some extremely powerful enemies. There's a few here that have decided I'd be better off dead."
"Why haven't you told some one? What did you do to make them mad at you?"
Lea looked at Nosedive. "Because it's my fight, not any one else's and I didn't want any of you to get hurt."
"That doesn't answer my second question, what did you do to piss them off?" Nosedive insisted.
Lea was silent for a while looking around every where but at Nosedive.
"Lea, tell me," Nosedive pleaded.
Lea sighed and looked at him. "I was out walking one night and I noticed some...unsavory characters."
"I want the full truth," Nosedive cut in.
Lea smiled at him. "You're one of the only people who do that."
"Do what?"
"Call my bluff."
"Continue."
"Ok, fine. I saw some demons. I didn't trust them so I started to follow them. I mean, not all demons are bad, look at my-" Lea cut herself off as her cell phone started ringing. "Hello?" A short pause. "In Anaheim-Oh good Goddess! I totally forgot! Thank you! I'll catch a plane as soon as I can. Aunt Fox, you're a life savor. Hang on a sec." Lea put her hand over the phone. "Would you like to go to New York with me?"
"Lea, I'm grounded."
"So? We can break you out."
Dive thought about it for a moment. "Sure, why not! If I'm grounded then I must be benched too!"
"Aunt Fox, my new boyfriend is coming too. Oh, are they? Mom too? Darn it! Well ok, I need to get going so I can catch that plane. Talk to you later! Bye!" Lea hung up the phone and dialed the airport to change her reservations. "Ready?"
"Yup!" Nosedive exclaimed standing up and offering Lea his hand. She accepted it and stood up. The two of them walked to the Pond hand-in-hand.
The Pond was the opposite of Dive and Lea's walk. "Where the heck is he? I told him that he was grounded!" Wildwing yelled.
Duke and Mallory rolled their eyes. "He's probably venting at Captain Comics," Mallory offered.
"Why isn't he answering his com?"
"'Cuz he's ticked off and doesn't wanna talk?" Duke explained.
"Come on, Wing, let's go to this Captain Comics and bring him back," Canard suggested.
"Right. Let's go." The two walked out of the room.
"When will they learn to leave him alone?" Duke asked.
"Not until Canard has broken Nosedive's spirit," Mallory said sadly.
"And I refuse to allow that to happen!" Lea exclaimed stepping into the room. "Is Canard and Wing here?"
"No, they went out looking for Nosedive."
"It's safe!" Lea yelled and Nosedive came in.
"You're going to be in so much trouble when they get back," Mallory said.
"And about to be in more," Lea muttered.
"What are you going to do?" Duke asked her.
"I've got a business meeting in New York, remember?"
"Yes...oh, I get it! Wing's going to kill you!" Mallory yelled.
"What are you planning on doing exactly?" Duke asked her.
"Go to New York and bring Dive with me."
"Please guys!" Dive begged. "I have to get away even if it's only for a couple of days! I'll call when I get there! Please!"
Duke and Mallory looked at each other for a moment. "I don't normally recommend going AWOL but go," Mallory said smiling.
"Hurry, before Wildwing and canard get back and don't call tonight, call tomorrow. Let Wildwing worry for a while," Duke instructed.
"Thanks, guys!"
"Let's go pack. We'll take my care to the airport," Lea said pulling Nosedive out of the room.
"We're going to end up in as much trouble as they are," Mallory said looking at Duke.
"We'll have to deal with that when the time comes. I suggest we go take naps, Wing's going to have us out searching all night."
"Ugh, and I was wanted to use that new facial mask stuff."
Lea leaned back into her seat and closed her eyes, fully intent on going to sleep.
"Lea?"
"Hm?" She asked opening her eyes and looking at Nosedive.
"How can you be so calm? We're gonna be in major trouble when Wing catches us!"
"It's no use worrying. There's not a lot we can do about it now. Besides, what's the worst he can do?"
"Ground us."
"So we're grounded, no big deal."
"You're not the slightest bit worried?"
"Nope, not worried at all." Lea turned and smiled at Dive. "I've been in deeper trouble before, this is nothing." To Dive she said, "After all I've got you at my side, don't I?"
"Dive nodded. "Yeah, you do."
"So we have no reason to worry. Besides we always have a place to retreat to. My families will always take me and my friends in."
"You sure?" Nosedive asked uncertainly.
"Positive," Lea answered and the laughed. "I can see Aunt Fox now! She's probably running around making sure that everything is ready for your arrival."
"Just mine? What about you?"
"I lived there for several years. Most of my stuff is in my room. Or scattered around Wyvern."
"Wyvern?" Nosedive asked looking slightly confused.
"That's the name of the place that Uncle David and Aunt Fox own."
"Oh. I'm worried that I'll be a bother while I'm there."
"You won't be. Aunt Fox loves having gusts over. Now lean back and take a nap. We'll be there in a couple of hours."
"Ok, night."
"Night," Lea muttered snuggling closer to Dive.
Wildwing paced around the Ready Room. "He's not at Captain Comics, the park, Wiener World, or any of his other hang outs! Where could he be?" Wildwing demanded.
"He'll be back tonight when he gets hungry," Canard stated looking away from a game of solitary.
"What if Dragaunus has him?"
"Dragaunus hasn't shown his face in a while."
"What if he hired someone to kidnap Dive?"
"Wing, relax!" Mallory demanded putting a hand on his arm. "I'm sure he's fine! Dive knows how to take care of himself here. Probably better than most of us and besides that he's probably got LeaMarie with him. She wouldn't let anything bad happen to him!"
Wildwing closed his eyes. "You're right," he conceded sitting down in a chair. Mallory and Duke sent each other silent looks over Wing's head.
Wildwing sat on Nosedive's bed, holding Nosedive's pillow to his chest. "He's alright." Mallory said walking in.
"I haven't been away from him since we met up in the camps."
Mallory sat next to Wildwing. "You don't need to worry about him. He's grown up so much since I've met him. I'm sure he's found a safe place to stay," Mallory told him placing her hand on his knee.
"Mal, I miss my brother," Wildwing said softly. Mallory looked away, guilt filled her when she saw the pain in Wildwing's eyes. "Why'd he leave?"
"You should talk to him, not me."
Wildwing's head raised off the pillow and looked at Mallory. "You know why he left."
"Yes."
"Why'd he leave?"
"Wing,"
"Please."
"Think about the last fight you two had."
"He said that I hadn't spent time with him and that I'm not listing to him."
"Right, now think about when he started to act up."
"After Lea came back."
"Are you sure?"
"You mean it started before she came back?"
"Yes."
"How long before?" Wildwing asked, a sickening feeling creeping over him.
"Not long."
"Canard. I know Nosedive has a problem with Canard but,"
"Listen. When Dive comes back instead of reacting just listen. He's been hurt and Duke, myself, and especially Lea has been trying to help him, but we're not the ones he needs."
"You're saying that I need to talk to him?"
"Yes. Now go to sleep. Things will look better in the morning," Mallory said standing up.
"Mal?"
"Yes?"
"Thank you."
"It's what I'm here for."
AN: I'm sorry that it's taken me so long to get this chapter up. I'm also sorry for leaving it off where I did. I'll hopefully get the next chapter up soon!