After she was changed out of her hockey gear Kristy wandered into Dive's room to see what her friend was up to.
"Dive, what are you doing?"
Nosedive had emptied his closet and was laying clothes out all over the room.
"Trying to decide what to wear for Phil's big publicity stunt," he held up a bright orange shirt, "is this too bright?"
"Why not just wear your jersey," suggested Kristy.
"T, girly-girl, I wanna stand out, let them know who's the star - "
Kristy threw a pillow in his face, "Ego check, dude."
"Hey, you don't see me wearing your old jerseys," accused Dive.
"Not my fault I don't have my own jerseys yet," argued Kristy, "and it's not yours, it's Wing's. I just found it in your room." She stuck out her tongue for emphasis.
Nosedive just turned his back to her and stripped off his sweaty practice jersey. He replaced it with a neutral teal t-shirt.
"What, not gonna show off your abs?" teased Kristy, who was used to watching her friend change.
"No, I've matured," answered Nosedive, slipping on an unzipped white sweatshirt. It featured the Mighty Ducks' logo on the front and said 'Flashblade' down the right sleeve.
"Can you hand me my jeans, Kriss?" he asked, pointing to his pants that were flung over a chair behind Kristy. Mature, that's a good one, thought Kristy and turned to retrieve the jeans. She turned back around and was hit in the face by Nosedive's sweatpants.
"What the..." She laughed to see Dive poising, clad only in boxers from the waist down.
"Am I sexy enough?" he asked, leaning back and putting a pout on his face.
"Yeah...work it...Dive." Kristy had trouble getting the words out. She was doubled over laughing, and that just encouraged him.
Nosedive turned slowly and pointed a remote at his stereo system. A rhythmic bass line filled the room. Dive stuck out his bottom and started swinging it to the beat. Kristy, who was still holding both pairs of his pants couldn't stand on her own any more. She grabbed the chair behind her and collapsed in it.
The words started and Dive leaned over to peak his head out from between his legs, "I like big butts and I can not lie..." He sang along with the song, shaking his whole body back and forth. He got through the first verse before the music suddenly disappeared.
"Hey! What's the big deal..." Nosedive's voice trailed off when he saw who was standing in the doorway, next to the stereo.
Kristy knew who it was even before she raised her head to meet Canard's dangerously dark eyes.
"What are you doing?" he asked coldly, seeing his little sister holding the half-naked boy's pants.
"We were just playing around," explained Kristy.
"You're holding his pants!" accused Canard. "You're holding two pairs of his pants." Kristy threw said clothing back to Dive. He slipped his jeans on silently.
Canard flipped open his comm and Kristy expected to see Wildwing's face. Instead, Mallory appeared.
"Mallory here."
"Hey Mal, it's Canard. Could you find something appropriate for Kristy to wear this afternoon?"
"Sure, send her to my room. Mallory out."
"Canard what are you talking about? I'm already dressed," argued Kristy.
"You're not wearing his clothes any more."
"I have a name you know," inserted Nosedive.
Canard glared at the teen. "Kristy, go," he ordered, pointing towards the door. Kristy sent Dive a sympathetic look and obeyed.
"What do you think you were doing?" demanded Canard once Kristy left the room.
"We were just joking around, Canard, we weren't doing anything."
"You were doing a strip tease for my sister!"
Dive took a step back, "ok, so maybe it looks sort'a bad, but-"
"I swear Kid," Canard took three steps to stand inches away from the young duck's face, "if you weren't Wing's brother I'd-"
"Canard! What are you doing?" Wildwing had been walking past and heard the commotion. He entered Nosedive's room to see his best friend leering over his kid brother. Canard practically jumped away and Dive took the opportunity to run behind Wing.
"He's blown a gasket, bro."
"Nosedive, what did you do?" asked Wildwing with a sigh, suspecting another prank.
I was just changing and Kristy happened to walk in," explained Dive. Wildwing cocked and eyebrow.
"You change with the door open?" asked Canard with disbelief.
"Kriss figured out my code like two days after she arrived," countered the teen, "anyways, she came to ask me about the PR stuff and started teasing me. So I started the dancing. AS A JOKE. So chill out, 'nard."
"What did you call me?"
Wildwing stepped between the two. "Nosedive, Canard, you both need to chill. Canard, you know Dive. He and Kristy just like to joke around. They aren't serious about any of it." Nosedive smirked, thinking he was about to get off free. Then Wildwing turned to him. 'And you, Dive, I don;t care what you're doing but from now on you and Kristy aren't allowed to be alone in any of the rooms together."
"What, but Wing what if we want to listen to music, or hang out, or-"
"You can do it with the door open," interrupted Wildwing, "or you can do it in the public rooms." He glanced between the two. "Agreed?"
"Sure."
"Whatever, bro."
"Good," Wildwing was glad the crisis was adverted, "now let's head upstairs . It's almost time for Phil's newest publicity thing."
Tanya, Duke, and Grin were waiting by the doors with Phil when Mallory and Kristy made their appearance.
Duke let out a low whistle, "Lookin' good, kid."
Tanya elbowed him in the side. "She's half your age," reminded the blond genius with a whisper.
"Thanks Duke," said Kristy, looking down sheepishly. She was still getting used to the charming older duck.
"Yeah Kristy, you look great," said Tanya sincerely.
"Of course she does," commented Mallory, "I picked out the outfit." She'd given Kristy a tight-fitting black T-shirt featuring the Might Duck's logo in glittering silver that left about an inch exposed around the teen's mid-section. A jean skirt that fell just below Kristy's knees and a pair of high black boots that ended halfway up her calves completed the ensemble.
Very chic, thought Mallory, looking over her work. She'd even convinced Kristy to wear her hair down for once. The light brown locks fell just past the girl's shoulders and accented her darker brown eyes.
"Kristy, boobie, you look like a star," said Phil, "we're going to make a great impression on the press. If I can get some pictures of you and your brother...oh man, I should've had you two wear matching colors. Between you two and Wing and Nosedive we could totally play up the whole 'family' thing. What do you think?"
"Um?..." Kristy was speechless. She didn't even know what to object to first, but Phil took it as a yes.
"So we'll defiantly get some shots of you alone too. If you can get the boys half as well as Dive draws in the girls..."
"Easy Phil," warned Mallory.
"Yeah," added Tanya, "if you get her started with any boys you'll have to deal with Canard." Phil gave her a blank look.
"He practically Dive's head off earlier 'cause we were joking around," said Kristy with a sigh. "He was alternating lecturing and threatening when I left."
"Well he better hurry. We're supposed to be there in less than ten minutes," announced Phil.
"So, where exactly are our leaders?" asked Duke off-handedly.
"Right here," answered Wildwing, who'd just stepped out of the locker room where the elevator was located. "I had to set up some new ground rules with Dive and Canard."
Kristy cringed at the news. I just hope Canard never finds out that Dive wanted to ask me out back on Puckworld. He's probably kill him, or send him to skate laps forever.
"But we're all set now, right?" asked Phil, anxious to be going.
"Yeah, sure," replied Canard off handedly. Then he saw his sister. "Kristina Thunderbeak! What are you wearing?"
"What? You told me to go change into Mallory's clothes."
Canard turned his attention on the red-head. "I told you to find her something apropriate to wear, not something like, like," he just pointed at Kristy, "like that!"
Mallory wasn't phased, she had four older brothers after all. "Canard, clam down. I wear clothes like that all the time. It's what girls on earth wear."
"But she looks like a-"
"She looks like a girl," injected Duke before Canard could finish, "a normal earth girl." Kristy flashed his a smile of gratitude and returned her attention to Nosedive. He'd been staring at her silently since he arrived.
"Wow T, you look awesome," exclaimed Dive finally, after walking in a full circle to see her from every angle. "I can't wait to show you to my friends. Mookie's gonna love you!" Dive had told her all about his earth friends and couldn't wait to surprise them with the newest duck.
"Thanks Dive," Kristy gripped his hands in excitement, "I can't wait to start exploring this planet."
"Well than let's start by exploring the city park," said Phil, "because we need to be there in three minutes or we're late!"
"I don't think It'll be a problem, Phil. The park's right across the street," reminded Wildwing, pointing out the door.
"Yeah, yeah, let's go," Phil ushered them out of the Pond.