Disclaimer: I do not own Galactik Football.

2

"What a scene, huh?"

It was a nonchalant comment on an at best mildly surprising case. A friendly little gossip regarding a snobby kid giving a headache to her parents and the people around them on a sunny day.

But of course, with the situation being far from that, Mei could not be blamed for her reaction not being in accordance to the tone of the words. Jumping a few feet in the air and dropping her precious stilettos –salutations to the workings of Karma, the holy bitch- on Sinedd's head was quite the acceptable response, as far as she was concerned.

"Wow," Sinedd handed the shoes to the shocked looking girl with one hand while his other one rubbed the spot they hit him, "How the lovebirds did not spot you is beyond me."

Mei calmed her breath and snatched her shoes from him, glaring as best as she could throughout; not being used to not being recognized the moment she stepped somewhere also meant not being used to getting caught while sneaking around, it seemed. Her heart was beating so fast she was sure it was going to tear open her chest.

"Oh, wait, of course it was because they are precisely that: lovebirds," Sinedd clarified with a smug grin towards the door that opened to the roof, the same one he had managed to snuck in after the tall brunette, "Still don't mean you're not the worst eavesdropper ever."

"Maybe because I don't do it often," Mei scoffed, turning towards the stairs she had climbed from, "Meaning never."

"Sure," Sinedd nodded, "I saw how you left in a hurry so as not to invade your friends' privacy –it was very thoughtful of you."

Mei whipped around and wished her hair had been in a ponytail instead of a bun so that the action could have resulted with a whip to the annoying boy's face:

"Are you accusing me, Sinedd? What were you doing there then?"

"I was following them," he added when a triumph expression formed on her face: "And I don't claim to be neither their friend nor not an eavesdropper; so there."

"Why were you following them in the first place?" Mei asked sceptically.

"I have some business with Dreadlocks," Sinedd shoved his hands into his pockets, "But I settled for enjoying the show instead; Rocket the abuser –never would have guessed. It's gold material."

Mei narrowed her eyes at him, taking a step:

"You're not going to speak of this, Sinedd," she ordered.

"I won't?" Sinedd, instead of looking intimidated as she had intended, bent over with mockery in his eyes and a smirk on his lips, "And what's your offer for me to keep me quiet, Dollface?"

His gaze had not flickered an inch from hers but Mei still couldn't shake the feeling that he was undressing her with his eyes. A shiver ran down her spine.

"You are such a dick," she snapped.

"Ouch," Sinedd took a step back but if anything his grin had widened, "Made the pretty lady mad. Bad Sinedd, very bad. Why would you think me so lowly, my lovely?"

"Because you are," she snorted, wishing to come up with a better retort. She turned around to put her shoes back on and promptly ignored the catcall Sinedd threw her way when she bent over. She rounded up on him again, taller and sterner, "So here's what's going to happen, Sinedd: you'll leave now and you'll never speak of what you heard out there. Actually, we haven't heard anything, so there's nothing to speak about."

"Are we talking about the same conversation?" Sinedd raised his eyebrows, "The one in which Rocket was accused of raping his girlfriend?"

"In case you haven't noticed, Tia said she consented," Mei shot back, "That doesn't make it rape."

"I have no idea about the legal sides of things," Sinedd shrugged, "All I know is, one mention to the press and people will forever be thinking about it."

"Oh and the press would hold your word over Tia's?" Mei crossed her arms.

"They may hold this little video over anyone's words," Sinedd took out his cell phone and pressed play to show her a reprise of Rocket and Tia's fight, granted it was a bit dark but her white hair could be made out even in the dark and Rocket's deep baritone voice was evidence enough, "And whoops, silly me I ran out of memory space at the point where they kissed and made up. Dang, I really do love a happy ending, too."

Mei snatched the phone from him and threw it on the ground. Sinedd gaped at the floor and then frowned up at her; she merely smirked into his face and pointedly raised her delicate, expensive shoe and dug it in the screen for good measure:

"Whoops," Mei shrugged and turned on her heels to exit the scene, victorious.

Sinedd smiled as he watched her retreat, still pissed but somewhat impressed. He gathered the broken pieces of his phone and followed her steps down the stairs.

"Mei!"

A smile formed on her face; she was not sure whether it was sincere, or just an automatic response –there were cameras everywhere.

She smiled wider when he strode over to her with his own –quite obviously sincere, no questions there- smile and offered his arm to her. However much she had been mad at him, D'Jok did look dashing in his suit, and he did make her feel safe after the encounter with Sinedd –which made her lose her footing, to say the least- and his presence was welcome.

"Where have you been? I was looking for you," D'Jok asked, as she indicated that she wanted to go to the bar with a nod of her head and he guided her in that direction.

"I needed some fresh air," Mei answered, "And you looked quite busy."

She couldn't help a small frown, her distaste with his hogging the journalists as he went on and on about how important it was to support the introduction of sports for orphans, as was the intention of that night's fundraising event, returning full force.

Well, the journalists had gone to him primarily; too, he was much more willing to talk than most of the other football players. Except for Micro-Ice, but Micro-Ice was probably trying to hide the next mischief he had gotten himself roped into and that left D'Jok. And D'Jok was such a willing poster boy.

"Well, I'd have cut short for you," D'Jok said, running a hand down her bare back, "Really, where have you been? You're cold."

"I'm fine," she said, taking a deep breath to calm herself because this was not the place to fume over her boyfriend's antics, "It was a bit chilly. And take your hands of me, my parents are here."

"My hand is right where it should be," he said, as they reached the waiters, "What would you like to drink?"

"Champagne, please," she said as she realized, yes, his hand was not crossing any boundaries.

"Two glasses of champagne," D'Jok told the waiter and offered hers when they were delivered.

Mei watched him hold the glass and looked up to his face, contemplating, as she linked his hand in his arm again. They made their way towards the rest of their teammates who were waving them to come over.

Then it dawned on her, when she saw Tia walk in from the grand entrance of the ballroom:

"You've been practicing with Tia," she said suddenly.

D'Jok choked on his drink: "What?"

"I caught you the other day in our room with her, she was teaching you how to behave gentlemanly!" she was filled with glee over her realization.

"Er... no?"

"That is just priceless; I can't believe she didn't let me in on the fun! Are the rest of the guys doing it too?" she laughed.

"D'Jok, blushing is a no-no for gingers, I should know," Yuki said, which made Mei laugh even more. "What's so funny?"

"D'Jok's been taking lessons from Tia," Mei giggled.

"Finally!" Yuki grinned, "You got that you're actually not the best and decided to learn from the original Breath-girl, right?"

"I am the best," D'Jok scoffed, "I could give Tia a few pointers..."

"On what?" Tia asked as she joined them.

"On the uses of Breath," D'Jok said, "That twirl you do can be better if you..."

"Yeah, yeah," Tia cut as she downed her scotch and pushed her empty glass to his hands, "Go get us refills."

D'Jok looked like he would protest but Tia gave him a sharp look – which no doubt reminded him of some notes from his lessons- and so he asked Yuki what she wanted, and after confirming Mei did not need anything set towards the bar once more.

Mei was watching Tia's face and trying to place her out of character behaviour; though, after what she had witnessed at the rooftop she had come to the realization that she did not know her best friend as well as she had thought.

"Where's Rocket?" she asked, realizing the boy in question had not come inside with her. She wondered whether it was their way of avoiding the cameras, pretending that they didn't leave together. In any case, Tia being here so early meant something had gone awry. Mei was certain no quickie could be that quick, then again she had already established and accepted the fact that she did not know much about the elusive couple's love life.

"I don't know," Tia shrugged, seeming very disinterested.

"There he is," Yuki pointed towards the entrance and Mei turned just in time to realize Sinedd had come inside before their teammate.

From the corner of her eye she noticed Tia had narrowed her eyes at the raven haired player instead of smiling at her boyfriend. Sinedd coyly saluted her and then he looked to the left and winked at Mei.

She stiffened.

The nerve of that guy, being so reckless in front of all those people!

She greeted D'Jok with her most brilliant smile when he came carrying another scotch for Tia –which was downed just as quickly as the other- and champagne for Yuki.

D'Jok smiled questioningly at her: "What's with you?"

She shrugged and traced her empty hand around his waist, snuggling up to him: "I'm just giddy you went through all that trouble to act gentlemanly."

"Well, you are making it hard to do so," he brought her closer.

"And you guys are making it hard for me to stomach my dinner," Yuki rolled her eyes. "I'll go find Micro-Ice. Tia?"

"I'll go get another drink," with a swoosh of her dress she strode away and Yuki left in another direction but only after making gurgling noises at the couple before her.

"What else has Tia thought you?" Mei asked looking up to him from his chest.

"That you are inappropriately close right now," D'Jok grinned.

"Oh, really?" she drew herself to her full height, and held onto his shoulder: "And how about now?" she claimed his lips.

As the camera lights flashed all around them in an instant, he kissed back without hesitation, holding her safely to himself and even dipped her a little.

She grinned against his lips: "Apparently I'm not the only inappropriate one."

"On the contrary," D'Jok looked smug, "It is only common courtesy to not leave a lady wanting."

She narrowed her eyes playfully: "You."

Her eyes flicked over to where Sinedd was standing in the corner for the briefest of seconds. He smirked and raised his glass in her general direction, looking bemused of all things.

Mei frowned and did as the journalists all around demanded of her and kissed her boyfriend with more ferocity.

If she was going to give them a show, let it be a good show.

"White is not your colour."

She frowned at his reflection in the mirror and quickly neutralized her face back when she realized the mimic was giving her a wrinkle between her eyebrows.

She fixed her attention back at the mini strapless dress she was trying and turned around to check exactly how short it stayed over her thighs.

"Actually, you'll find that it is," she said conversationally, "I'm a brunette and I have gotten myself a little bit of a tan –it works perfectly."

She readjusted the hem, satisfied that it showcased her long legs perfectly and bent slightly forward to check the cleavage. When she caught him checking her out from the mirror she flicked her hair back with a little bit more forced than necessary, successfully whipping him in the face this time.

His smirk didn't falter.

"You owe me a new phone," Sinedd stated.

"Do I?" she went past him and into the changing cabin, watching him stride over from after her and slamming the door to his face before he could do something crazy like get inside with her. She didn't put it past him, and her haste made him grin even wider.

"You have destroyed my old phone," his voice reached over as she struggled out of the tight dress, "There is a shop on the next street."

She huffed as she finally managed to get her head out of it, getting frustrated at her hair becoming all electrified.

"Do you need help? I am really good at taking women's clothes off."

She rolled her eyes and willed herself to calm down, hanging the dress and reaching for her own clothes.

Ignoring him was not working, though; as when she opened the door he was still there, resting against the wall nonchalantly, looking like shopping with girls was one of his usual pastimes.

She glared and went towards the register. He followed her like a dog. Well, a dog that looked disinterested and was only doing it because he knew he'd get bacon in the end instead of out of loyalty but he was still hot on her heels anyways.

She decided he would not get that bacon at any cost, as she smiled politely at the cashier.

I know, I know. Months of waiting, and then this? Nothing even really happens in here. But it's been getting out of hand, and as FemaleSpock very well knows -you are a great person for not smacking me down about my whining all over the place, honey, thank you- it was eating me away.

I am so nervous of D'Jok, Mei and Sinedd's characterizations, as I believe I have quite different opinions on them than their hardcore fans. I'm trying to do my best but it's really hard finding a ground for how much they have changed in between seasons. And I actually wish I could discuss with the anonymous reviewers -you guys leave some of the best comments, so thank you. Constructive criticism is, as always, very welcome.

Thanks to some stories by Gerkyhen, I'm strangely intrigued by the idea of Rocket/Mei recently, too. So if there are any prompts, I'd love to drabble. We also still have a prompt thread in the forums.

This story is expanding as I write it. And I'm scared of it O.o