Disclaimer: I don't own RvB.
Warning! OOCness, sucky romance, and not a lot of continuity. That said... enjoy!
Valentine's Day Special: Will You Be My Valentine?
It was a slow day aboard the Mother of Invention. Washington was not playing with his rescued cat, because that would be against regulations.
Maine was knitting in his room, listening to Beethoven.
North and Wyoming were having a sniper match, South and CT placing bets on who would win.
York was in jeans and a t-shirt, carefully cradling a plastic box as he made his way to the eating Carolina. He reached her table and stood there, suddenly looking rather sheepish. Carolina looked up at his shuffling steps, quirking an eyebrow at his uncharacteristic uncertainty. He put the box on the table and lightly pushed it forward. "Chocolate's are good, strawberries are sweet, but neither compare to you. Together, they say, 'would you be my Valentine, Carolina?'" he said, giving her a slightly nervous smile. She narrowed her eyes and took the box. Opening it, she was confronted with chocolate dipped strawberries. She stared at the strawberries, then looked up at York, then back at the offering. She picked up one of the smaller treats, which were all rather large for strawberries. York watched nervously as she bit through the chocolate shell and into the sweet fruit beneath.
"Not bad, York," she said as she stood. York stared at her in shock and awe. She was smiling. Oh man she was smiling!
"You should smile more often," he found himself saying, even as his self preservation instincts were telling him to shut up and run. She chuckled and took another bite.
"For today... sure," she said, sashaying up to him. York's eyes went wide, staring at her strawberry stained lips. Was that a spot of chocolate in the corner of her mouth? "I'll be your Valentine York," Carolina whispered in his ear. One would be hard pressed to blame York for fainting at this point. Carolina chuckled as she took the box of chocolate dipped strawberries and vanished to her room. "My win. Florida owes me ten bucks."
/*/
If there was anything more terrifying then this, Leonard Church would eat his doctoral thesis. He stared at the selection of flowers, sweating over which would be the best for the soldier of his heart, Allison. Finally, he decided, none of these flowers would do. So, he went for the chocolate section. They didn't have anything that was suitable for his girlfriend. He sighed, rubbing a hand through his short brown hair. "What am I gonna do?" he wondered to himself, staring despondently at the chocolate isle. That was when a brain wave hit him. He'd make her some chocolate! And maybe some steak. He knew he could cook some good steak. So, he found a recipe, gathered the ingredients, and went back home to attempt making chocolate for the one woman who held his heart. It took him all day, and almost every last ounce of his ingredients, but finally, finally, he had the perfect chocolate for Allison. The steak would just have to wait for lunch the next day. He didn't have time to do it right. And everything had to be just right for Allison. He swallowed heavily, carefully placing the seven pieces of smooth, dark, hazelnut studded, chocolate in muffin cups and laying them inside a high sided box. He tied it shut with camouflage ribbon, tying the bow just so. Nodding, he said, "It's do or die time," and picked up his homemade Valentine before walking out the door.
/&/
"Leonard! I wasn't expecting you!" Allison said as she opened the door. Leonard carefully ignored the gun she was holding by her side. She was a soldier, they were expected to be a little paranoid.
"May I come in?" he asked, just a little ner... oh who was he kidding? He was working on auto-pilot while the rest of him was screaming that she was gonna kill him.
"Yeah sure, whatever," Allison said, tucking the gun back into the drawer she kept by the door for just that purpose. Leonard swallowed nervously and followed her into her home. "So, what brings you to my neck of the woods?" she asked. Leonard brought his box up, a slight blush coloring his cheeks.
"Would you be my Valentine, Allison?" he asked as he held it out. She went still for a moment, then took the box, tugging the bow loose, and opened it. She took a deep breath, her eye's drifting closed as the scent reached her. Then, the moment of truth. She picked up a piece of the chocolate, and bit in. A soft moan escaped as she enjoyed the slightly bitter sweetness of the chocolate. She bit the hazelnut chunk and her eyes flew open.
"Hazelnut chocolate?" she asked, shocked. "Leonard... where did you find this?" He shuffled slightly, his blush getting just a little deeper.
"I couldn't find anything good enough for you in the stores... so I made it," he said. She stifled the squeak that wanted to come out as she hastily set the box of home made hazelnut chocolate down on the table and threw her arms around her nerd of a boyfriend.
"Best Valentine ever, Leonard. I love you," she said, then proceeded to kiss him soundly.
"I take that as a yes then, huh?" he asked with a slightly dazed smirk when she released him. She laughed and stuck a chunk of the chocolate in her mouth.
"Darn straight it is!" she said. Leonard smiled happily and the two spent the day, what little was left of it, comfortably together.
/*/
Dexter Grif hated Valentine's Day. He really did. With a mighty passion. Why? Because his little sister was just too pretty for her own good and their dead-beat dad wouldn't do his job of scaring off those lecherous boys so he had to. It had only gotten worse when he had been 'drafted.' Every time February 14th rolled around, he became unbearable to be around. This year, however... "Dex~! Let me out~!" Kai called, banging on the door to her brother's room. He growled, fingering his beloved Magnum.
"No! I will not let you get molested by all these mutton heads! This year, I'm doing my job right!" he snarled, glaring at the ground down below, as though daring Tucker to come over.
"I didn't think it was possible," Rick told Eagle Eye, the two of them hiding from Dex, "but he's actually worse."
"Wait wait wait... he's been like this before?" Eagle asked. Rick nodded.
"Every year, on February 14th, Dex would go mad, muttering about evil boys and poor Kai and his dead-beat dad never doing anything and he has to do everything and they'd better not touch her... I left it alone the first two years, but then I asked. Kai's his sister," the IT wizard explained. Eagle's eyes went wide as the importance of that name sunk in.
"And now she's here. In a canyon filled with guys. Who haven't seen a woman since Tex. Who so doesn't count," the sniper said. Rick nodded, the par of them wincing as the sound of gunshots reverberated through the base. "Ho boy. Think Tucker will survive today?"
"No clue man. No clue," Rick said.
/&/
On the other side of the canyon, Tucker was pouting. He loved Valentine's Day! It was the perfect time to pick up chicks and show 'em you could be sensitive! But the only girl around was Kai, and it was well known, at least by now, that she came with an overprotective big brother. An overprotective big brother who was a highly trainer soldier with the title of Weapons Expert who could still take any Blue with his bare hands. So, no way was Kai going to be his Valentine. The nerd on Red Team had a better chance at even hanging out with her today than Tucker did. But dang did he want to hang out with Kai today! Sure she was part of Blue Team, but... there had always been something special about February 14th. He sighed, looking out toward Red Base, where Dex had kidnapped Kai and was holding her captive. Tucker didn't even notice when his face twisted into a snarl. 'Kai doesn't deserve being locked up! She's a free spirit! She's meant to be free and wild and in the sun and the waves and... ho boy. I've got it bad,' Tucker thought, fist tightening until his knuckles went white. Church, being the selectively observant jerk that he was, sighed gustily.
"If you're that in love with her, just go ask Dex if you can take over for a while," he said from where he had been staring mournfully at Caboose's sandwich. Tucker jerked, then sighed and put on his helmet before striding out of the base. "About time," Church muttered, going back to bemoaning his inability to eat. It wasn't so much that he missed eating, it was that he missed being able to taste things. Meanwhile, Tucker had reached Red Base. Seeing him from their hiding place, Rick and Eagle contacted him over the open radio channel.
"Whoa! What do you think you're doing?" Eagle asked, drawing a bead on him with his rifle, which was now loaded with lock down paint.
"Dex is worse this year than any previous year! If you get much closer, he's gonna kill you!" Rick warned. Tucker sighed.
"I know you can hear me Dex... if you have your helmet on anyway. Ah! Just listen! I like Kai. I like her a lot. More than any woman I've ever seen, even my mother. I love the way she laughs, the way her eyes sparkle. I love how innocent she is, right up to the point where she judo flips you and shoves a gun in your mouth. She's told me a little about her past, and I get it. Really, I do. I'm not going to hurt her, I'd never hurt her. I want to protect her just as much as you do!" he said. Rick whistled.
"Well. That was unexpected," he said.
"Very touching. So Valentine!" Eagle exclaimed happily. Rick groaned, smacking his forehead against the wall.
"You... are so... very... special, Eagle. So... very... special," he said. Eagle chuckled.
"You know you'd get bored without me!" he said, pounding the other man on the back.
"Doesn't mean I have to like it," Rick groused. Tucker was left fidgeting nervously outside the base, waiting for Dex's answer.
"Come on big bro! I like this one! He's nice to me!" he heard Kai whine and a smile tugged at his lips. She was so amazing... even if her brother was Dex.
"Well... I guess... as long as you keep that promise..." Dex's voice said, sounding rather begrudging. Even with that promising statement, Tucker didn't move. Did he dare to hope... ? "Alright. I'll allow you up. But if you're going to do this, you have to do it right!" Tucker grinned and walked inside Red Base, heading toward Dex's room. He stopped in front of the rather imposing man and presented his Valentine's offering. Scanning it with a gizmo he'd pulled from who-knows-where, Dex nodded and opened the door.
"Tucker!" Kai yelled happily. Tucker couldn't help but grin at her. Armor or no armor, inside or out, Kaikaina was one beautiful young woman.
"That's one mighty fine bodyguard you've got there," Tucker couldn't help but quip. She sighed, glaring at her brother, who didn't look sorry in the least. He was fudging smirking at her!
"He's always been like this," she whined, "even in grade school!" Tucker chuckled.
"Aw, don't be too hard on him. With a princess like you in his home, how could he not fill the role of Shining Knight?" he said. She scrunched up her face at him, causing him to laugh. "I know, I know. You don't need a protector," he said. She sighed and looked at him expectantly. He cleared his throat theatrically and knelt on one knee, holding up his box of chocolates. "I have battled through the Blue Ridicule and the Red Hazing, crossing the Canyon of Despair, just to seek your fine company. And so, I ask you this one question. Kaikaina Grif... would you be my Valentine?" Kai laughed, taking the chocolate and setting it aside before she tackled the kneeling Blue. Dex smirked and moved back, heading toward the rec room. Maybe Valentine's Day wasn't so bad after all, if Kai had another protector.
/*/
Butch Flowers was many things. He had so many titles, military and otherwise, he didn't know what to introduce himself as. Captain Flowers. Agent Florida. Agent Hippie. Butch. Flowdie. Flower Child of Indifference. Still. If there was one thing he knew he was, it was head over heels in love with the equally confusing woman he found himself living on a space ship with. Marlene White. She had almost as many names as him. Doctor. Captain. Agent Oregon. Agent Black. Marly. Crazy Chick. Still. He loved her, in all her wacky glory. And today was Valentine's Day. The day where couples exchanged chocolates and flowers and went on dates and watched chick flicks. But where would he find any of that here? He couldn't even make chocolate on this ship! And none of the flowers down in the canyon were suitable. Marly didn't own a TV, much less a chick flick. And where could they go for a date that Marly didn't already know about? She was the pilot! He sighed, then smirked and made his way toward the object of his affections. "Hey Marly," he said, sitting down beside her. She grunted.
"What do you want, Flowdie?" she asked flatly.
"To give you some Flowers," he answered. She blinked, turning to look at him. Her puzzled expression was so cute, it made Flowdie blush, just a little.
"Where did you get some flowers?" she asked. His smirk deepened and he was sure his eyes were filled with mischief.
"Ah, but the only Flowers worthy of you... is myself," he said, draping himself across her lap. She scoffed and dropped him to the floor, though he thought he saw a tiny smile. He counted it a win.
"You are so cheesy, Flowdie. But, credit where credit is due, you got me with that word play," she said. Flowdie shrugged.
"I couldn't get any decent chocolate, this canyon doesn't have any good flowers, and I know you don't have any chick flicks. That was the best I could come up with," he said. She shook her head, a fond smile tugging at her lips.
"Well, in the spirit of the holiday... would you be my Valentine, ya big hippie?" she asked, pulling out a pair of Hersey's bars. Flowdie felt his eyes go wide.
"Marly... you are the most exceptional woman I've ever met... outside my mother of course," he said, taking one of the bars. Marly chuckled and ripped open her own chocolaty treat.
"High praise indeed," she said, sitting back down. Flowdie chuckled and sat beside her, watching the clouds go by. All in all, it wasn't a bad St. Valentine's Day at all.
/?/
A/N: So... OOCness is rampant, the romance is kinda flat, but I still had fun with this! Tucker/Kai and Flowdie/Marly were pretty hard to figure out, but I think I did fairly well by these pairings. And Leonard/Allison is still better than Twilight! I regret nothing!
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If there's a guy/girl pairing you want to read me attempt to write, let me know in the reviews and I'll write an omake for it. Happy Valentine's Day!