(W.W.T) Here my Dears, Ok this Chapter ended up being extremely lengthy even by my long winded standards (My bad). I was trying to tie in some more things to do with my own take an tweaks on Martian culture for later chapters, and it sort of got away from me.( I really love that stuff it's fun to write). Also to the guest who left the review for chapter 3. First thank you for taking the time to read and review, and second you are right there are a lot of spelling and grammatical errors in this work. Especially in the beginning chapters and I apologize for that, I am slowly going back to fix them as I find the time. I have a few processing disorders that can make things along the lines of spelling and punctuation placement difficult for me.(It just doesn't click in my brain the same way it does for other people) But I promise I am making an effort and I feel that I have had some improvement in the later chapters. That being said while I love to write and work on my stories. I am currently working two jobs on top of attending various classes /trainings, and I am the mother of an active four year old. So it's usually fairly late when I do find the time to work on this stuff and let's face it sleep deprivation certainly doesn't help to improve ones grammar either lol. So I hope you can find it in you to be a bit forgiving when you run across some of the smaller errors, and please keep in mind that while I do want to provide the best reading experience I can for you. There is no monetary gain from this; like the many other authors on this website it's just me dedicating some of my spare time to a hobby I love. That being said if you do see any big mistakes that I've missed please feel free to bring them up in a review or message me. With that addressed, I sincerely hope you enjoy the next chapter of Mars needs mates.
Disclaimer: You know I know don't own save for Oc's and story concept. As I have previously stated I make no money from this and it is for fun and entertainment purposes only.
Chapter 10 ( Mice are from Mars and Earth girls aren't easy)
Chair slowly woke to the tickling sensation of something flicking against the tip of her nose. Reaching up groggily to batt at it as she cracked one sleep heavy eye open and tried to focus her bleary gaze enough to make out whatever it was, blinking in surprise when the tip of a furry tan tail finally came into view.
Chair craned her neck back enough to where she could just make out the shape of Throttles as he slept propped up in one of the recliners in Charley's den, his tail apparently having draped itself over the arm of the couch sometime while he slept.
Chair slowly sat up and stretched her arms over her head the sounds of the other two male's snores reaching her ears. It had been late enough when she had returned to the last chance that rather than have Modo run her home she had opted to camp out with everyone at the garage. Charley had mentioned having a guest bedroom but it was currently being used for storage So Chair had just bedded down with the mice in the living room.
Modo had insisted she take the couch and Chair had been too tired at that point to even make a token attempt at a protest, and had curled up without further ado asleep almost before her head hit the cushion. Chair paused as the sensation of fabric bunched around her legs registered and she looked down noting the blanket that someone had thoughtfully placed over her while she slept.
If she had to hazard a guess that someone was probably close to seven feet tall and sported soft grey fur. Chair reached out and ran her hand over the worn fabric as she looked over at where the male in question was sprawled a few feet away on the rug next to the couch.
Vinnie apparently having one out on the only other available seat in the den although now that she thought about it she didn't think he'd been in the room when she'd first laid down. But what with the stressful events of the evening coupled with the late hour, she had been rather out of it at that point even without suffering the added side effects of a shot of pain medication like Charley.
Chair grinned as she glanced over at the white furred male and recalled the look on his face when he'd pulled a still marginally loopy Charley out of the truck. Who apparently under the influence of the pain medicine lacked her usual inhibitors, and in a move very much like something Chair would have pulled herself. Had promptly reached up to fondle and play with his ears a moment, commenting that she liked how soft and silky they were before dropping her hands back down and snuggling up against him to fall back asleep.
She didn't know who's expression had been funnier Modo and Throttle who looked like they were going to have aneurisms trying not to laugh at the white furred male. Or Vinnie himself who's eyes had appeared to be in danger of completely bugging out of his head as he stared down at the drowsing mechanic in shock. Chair had just barely managed to choke down her own laughter and explain about the pain shot.
A smile still on her face at the memory Chair stood up and moved over to stand next to were Modo sprawled on the rug asleep .The sound of the snores punctured by the occasional snort escaping from his sleep slackened jaw causing her to suppress a laugh as she made her way the few feet across the room.
Chair paused briefly to study a stray beam of sunshine that had snuck through a chink in the blinds and currently danced across his sleeping features before she bent to drape the covering still clutched in her hands over him.
Suppressing a small yawn as she absently reached out to gently smooth a small tuft of fur back down on his cheek before she straightened back up again and turned to head out of the room in the direction of the kitchen.
At the sound of Chair's fading footsteps Modo opened his eye and carefully shifting so he could watch her retreating form as she left the room. The sound of a soft chuckle drawing his attention over too Throttle as he sat regarding him.
" You know Bro…for a mouse you do a pretty darn good impression of a possum." He said with another chuckle his voice slightly rough from sleep.
Modo rubbed awkwardly at the back of his neck at being caught out by the Tan furred male, but Throttle merely gave the ghost of a smile and closed his eyes once more as he leaned back to catch a few more minutes rest before the others began to stir.
Satisfied that was the extent of the comments from the Martian leader on the matter, Modo turned back to face the door hesitating a second longer his tail flicking in thought before he climbed to his feet and followed after Chair.
Modo entered the kitchen just in time to watch Chair hop backwards up onto the counter before turning to reach for one of the coffee cups tucked up in the cabinet, the sight causing him to pause as he watched her in amusement.
Modo gave a small cough more to alert her to his presence than to clear his throat as he moved forward and caught her around the waist to lower her to the floor before she could jump back down on her own.
Chair blinked more surprised to see the stone furred Martian up an about than she was at the action. Honestly if she'd known he was awake she would have been more surprised if he didn't try to help her down from the counter, although if he had been in the room a minute or two sooner she probably wouldn't have even had a chance to climb up on the counter to reach the cup in the first place.
Chair honestly didn't like to bother people over her occasional difficulties reaching items and the like due to her height …especially when with just a little extra effort she could usually manage for herself…but Modo seemed to have developed a way of anticipating when she was going to try to climb or balance on random objects in order to reach things she needed and had started stepping in to help more and more often.
It was at times both equally endearing and vexing to find the big male hovering nearby so much… but Chair had to admit she was starting to get used to it, and with her current emotional dilemma she wasn't sure if that was a good thing or not.
"Morning." Modo said grinning as he set her on the floor. Watching as she wrinkled her nose at him her expression one of wry exasperation. Chair couldn't stop the laugh that escaped her as Modo smiled down at her and simply shrugged unabashedly in the face of her minor annoyance with him.
" I've said it before your lucky your cute you know." Chair said her lips curling up at the edges as she taped him gently on the chest with the empty mug, before making her way over to the coffee pot to fix a batch.
Chair had just pressed the start button on the electric coffee pot after finishing setting it up when she spotted the large bowl of fruit Charley had sitting out on the counter with a handful of apples mixed in it. Unable to resist the temptation of her favorite food in such easy reach, especially with her empty stomach making complaints and gurgles at the sight. Chair reached out to snag one of the apples out of it and headed over to the sink to rinse it. Before locating a paring knife and taking down a small plate to start dicing it while the pot filled.
A loud sputtering and the pleasing scent of fresh coffee filling the air alerted her as the brewer finished dispelling the last of the caffeinated liquid. Chair glanced in the direction of the now full pot as she placed the knife in the sink.
Before grabbing her plate of fruit and making her way back over to the coffee to pour a cup. Then turned to carrying it and the plate of Apple slices over next to where Modo was leaning against the counter. She had just lifted up one of the slices to take a bite when she caught Modo watching her curiously out of the corner of his eye.
Chair paused with the slice midway to her lips as it suddenly occurred to her that with the exception of hotdogs and the like, she really hadn't seen the Martian male eat a very wide variety of food since she'd known him.
"Modo... Have you ever tried an apple?" Chair asked curiously looking up at him. Modo scrunched his nose briefly in thought at the question then shook his head "No" he answered "can't say I have."
Chair absorbed this for a moment then leaned forward startling him by holding the slice of fruit towards his mouth. "Here," she offered looking up at him expectantly.
Modo froze for a second as the smell of the fruit filled his nostrils tart and sweet (her smell) he thought vaguely recognizing the elusive scent that often clung to her that he had previously been unable to place.
Not really sure of the unknown food but not wanting to risk offending her by refusing when it was something she obviously enjoyed. Modo cautiously opened his mouth wide enough for her to pop the slice into it, allowing the piece to rest on his tongue a moment without chewing as he took in the taste.
The flavor reminded him slightly of the uncooked Muta his mother would sometimes encourage him and his sister to try a few bites of from time, to time while insisting it was good for their digestion. Although considering how much time he'd spent in the latrine afterwards the following results had been anything but good to his mind.
Modo realized He must have made an odd face at the unpleasant memory because Chair cocked her head to the side in concern as she watched him.
"Modo? …You ok?" She asked reaching tentatively towards him as if to place her hand on his jaw.
Modo panicked afraid of hurting her feelings if he outright rejected the piece of her favorite food she had given him, and quickly attempted to just swallow the slice whole only to have it lodge halfway down.
Chair jumped in surprise as Modo's eye suddenly bulged and he hunched down in obvious distress his body tensing as he struggled unsuccessfully to dislodge the piece of fruit.
" Oh my Gad!" She cried trying to get her hand around to pat him on the back. Realizing almost immediately that she was too short to reach properly Chair quickly hauled herself back onto the counter scrapping her leg against one of the drawer handles and knocking her still steaming coffee cup over in the process. The sound of tinkling glass and the heat of the coffee just registering as she scrambled up behind him to pound between his shoulder blades.
"shit!..ok.. Ok.. Hold on!" She hissed out in a rush, all of her focus centering on Modo as she continued to thump soundly against his broad back.
Chair had just started to feel the edges of panic creeping in and was about to call out for help when Modo finally managed to force the piece of fruit down the rest of the way. Chairs hands dropped limply down to rest on the counter top relief washing over her as he gagged then began to hack forcefully.
The steady trickling sound of the spilled coffee pouring off the counter in a broken stream competed with the buzzing rush of her pulse in her ears, and the harsh sounds of her and Modo's breathing as they both attempted to catch their breath.
Huffing heavily from the effort of dislodging the rogue piece of apple Modo rubbed at his chest in an attempt to help ease the sensation of still having a knot lodged in it, and Coughed forcefully a few more times to help clear his throat. Before he turned to face a somewhat shell-shocked Chair as she sat looking at him wide eyed her own breaths ragged.
" You… know." she finally panted as they regarded each other." If you don't… like something… its ok to spit it back.. out." Chair added on a wheeze. Modo slowly blinked as he took in the sight of Chair perched on the edge of the counter her leg bleeding from an angry looking line and hot coffee soaking into the shorts she was wearing.
His mouth twisting into a frown even as he continued to heave in breathes Modo reached out, his hands spanning her waist as he lifted her out of the hot liquid. " I'll…keep that in mind." he said his voice rasping thickly as he set her down his hands lingering a moment as he stared down at her trying to assess whether or not she was seriously hurt in anyway even as he struggled to regain his own composer from nearly choking.
Chair barked out a small laugh at his response as she stared up at him the sound at odds with the strained look on her face.
"Geeze.. give a girl a heart attack why don't ya…"Chair sighed Shakely leaning forward before he could pull back or step away so that her forehead rested against the bottom half of his chest.
"Please don't ever do that again. The only way I could even think to try to do the Heimlich on someone your size, would be to stand on your stomach and use you like a trampoline." Chair said reaching out and wrapping one arm around him in a loose embrace, as she turned letting her cheek press against his chest the reassuring feel of his heartbeat helping to steady her own.
The after effects of adrenaline mixed with relief hit Chair hard. The rush of endorphins making her feel almost giddy. which caused the whole situation to suddenly strike her as funny despite the seriousness of only moments before.
Modo stared down at the top of Chairs head in concern torn on what to do as she pressed against him and began to giggle then laugh uncontrollably, the force of her laughter increasing until she was almost shaking with it before she finally tapered off into a coughing fit. Gasping in a few weak breaths as she glanced back up at him, a grin curling the edges of her mouth as her gaze locked with his.
"You know… I honestly think I might just have to give up coffee for you." Chair said her tone serious but her eyes gleaming with humor.
Modo stared down at her in obvious confusion as he absorbed this. "What?" He finally responded starring at her his eye widening further in concern. Chair chuckled and reached up to pat his cheek affectionately at his bewildered expression.
"Well… so far since I met you, whenever I have a cup somebody ends up choking, and I end up scalding some rather sensitive parts of myself." Chair finished dryly lowering her arm and twisting slightly to display the coffee stained back of her shorts.
Modo followed Chairs trail of sight, then realized where exactly he was looking and immediately shifted his gaze to the floor clearing his throat, A Frown suddenly twisting the corners of his mouth back down as he noticed the thin gash still trickling blood down her leg.
Modo glanced around until he spotted the clean drying cloth Charley always had on hand, grabbing it then bending down to dab the cloth against Chair's leg as he tried to see how deep it actually was.
Chair experienced a twinge of surprise as Modo let out an audible chuff of air his teeth clicking together lightly as he grabbed a hand towel off the counter, and knelt down to start gently blotting at the cut on her leg his expression intent. She started to say something but her minor protest died on her lips as her heart gave an odd flip at the look on his face while he examined the mild injury.
Chair reached out with the vague intention of drawing his attention away from what she was certain was only a minor scratch. But her hand seemed to take on a mind of its own as she caught the glint of metal out of the corner of her eye, and instead moved it up to lightly touch one of the gold hoops dangling from his ear. Her fingertips brushing against the cool metal of the one closest to his cheek enough to partially angle it towards her while she studied it.
Modo froze with the cloth pressed against her leg his breath catching as he shifted his gaze back up to meet hers, and Chair found herself Unable to look away as he stared at her an unnamed emotion passing so fleetingly across his face it was gone before she could fully register it..
The moment continued to stretch between them as Modo watched her as if… he was waiting for something from her … his manner reminiscent of the day she'd kissed his cheek in the stairwell, and despite her personal resolve to only think of herself and him as friends.
Chair found her gaze slowly sliding down to rest on Modo's mouth. The question of whether or not with the difference in the shapes of their jaws if the mice still kissed the same as humans … or if they even kissed at all for that matter passing through her mind as she stared at it.
As if he could sense the direction her thoughts had taken Modo tensed, his breath briefly stilling before an almost imperceptible sound slipped from him as he became aware of where her eyes were focused.
The small whisp of noise snapped Chair from her dazed musings. Suddenly Unsure of her own thoughts and actions Chair went to pull her hand back from where it still hovered just under the grey Martians ear Startling as Modo's tail curled around her wrist halting her retreat .
She starred down at it in surprise distantly marveling at how dexterous it actually was before lifting her eyes up to meet his again. The soft fur of his tail tickling her skin as he slowly tightened it around her wrist while they regarded each other.
Modo's expression shifted to serious as he opened his mouth to speak but he never got the chance, as a loud thump from the direction of the living room reached their ears. Followed closely by Vinnie's aggravated and groggy voice. "Ouaff!.. Alright..Who the Heck left a blanket in the middle of the floor!?"
Chair blinked feeling a bit like she was waking from a trance, as the surreal moment between them broke and realty came rushing back in around her. Chair felt a flush warming her cheeks as she gave her arm a gentle tug to remove it from the grey furred males grip.
Modo seemed hesitant to let go but eventually conceded loosening his hold allowing His tail to slowly unwind from around Chairs wrist. As she quickly stepped back and made her way around his still kneeling form with a mumbled excuse rapidly heading back out the door towards the den.
(Friends! we're friends and trying for anything else would just muck it up!) Chair thought adamantly as she fled the room. Maybe if she kept saying/thinking it enough she'd actually remember it and start doing a better job of keeping her hands to herself for a change.
Modo slowly rose from his crouched position standing motionless in the middle of the room his expression thoughtful as he stared down at the cloth in his hand a minute. His gaze shifting towards the door and his fingers closing around it briefly, before he moved to start cleaning up the mess from the spilt coffee and the abandoned plate of apple slices.
The next few days were a whirlwind of activity as Chair tried to help around the garage any way she could cooking meals sorting inventory and rescheduling clients left and right. While the mice themselves attempted to keep up with a recovering Charley.
A task that was proving easier said than done as the wilily mechanic had recently taken to sneaking into the garage at night to work on the multitude of things she insisted were piling up during her absence, Prompting the males who were already rotating so that one of them stayed behind to keep an eye on her during the day. To start taking turns sleeping at the foot of the stairs leading to Charley's room to prevent anymore late night escapades.
Chair had just finished placing a new shipment of parts up on a shelf in the back of the garage when the sound of Charley's voice reached her.
"I can't take this anymore!"
"I can't even go pee without finding one of you three hovering over me." Charley Growled as she made her way painstakingly into the garage followed closely by a rather harried looking Throttle, his expression a cross between exasperated annoyance and admiration as he kept pace with the headstrong mechanic.
"At least let me install the last part for Chair's truck.. I know it was supposed to come in sometime today ..and I saw the delivery van."
" No can do babe. You're supposed to be taking it easy around here for the next few weeks Doctors orders." Throttle said attempting to head her off before she could make it to the other side of the garage, finally managing to halt her progress by stepping in front of her and placing his hands on her shoulders.
"Throttle if you know what's good for you, you'll move that furry behind of yours..out of my way! Before I give in to the desire to plant my foot in the vicinity of your tail". Charley bit out while glaring up at the Martian leader.
"Sorry Charley-girl." Throttle replied with a chuckle using said tail to hoist her up into his arms like a parent collecting a wayward toddler. The image only further cemented by the petulant tone that suddenly filled Charley's voice .When she protested the treatment as he headed back across room at a rapid clip.
"Hey! What do you think you're doing you..you … big hair brained lummox!...I swear Throttle If you don't put me down… this instant!" Charley trailed off with another frustrated growl.
" Ouch!" Throttle suddenly cried out stopping momentarily to glare down in annoyance at the female in his grip before starting across the room again.
"Come on Charley fur pulling ..what are you five-eE-Ye-ouch!" Chair couldn't help the laugh that escaped as Throttles pained cry floated back through the doors as he disappeared back into the garages living quarters with the aggravated mechanic in tow.
Chair chuckled again as she made her way back over to the desk. While she sympathized with Charley over her accurate portrayal of the three males over protective streaks. She certainly didn't envy any of them their self-appointed task of trying to keep up with the determined redhead either.
Chair looked up from where she had been rummaging through a couple invoices, as the sounds of Vinnie and Modo's bikes reached her a split second before they rode into the garage. Back from their latest patrol of the area's being affected by the string of arsines cases.
"Hey Doll! How are things holding down the fort?" Vinnie called over to Chair while removing his helmet and stepping off his bike.
"Oh you know." Chair started right as a loud clang followed by Charley's irate sounding voice could be heard from the other room. "The usual" she finished wryly as the white mouse's ears dipped back an impressed and mildly horrified look passing across his face at the noises emitting from the other room.
Modo released a long whistle as he stepped up beside him. "Sounds like Charley-girls in rare form today." He added a touch of aw coating his own voice as they all stared in the direction of the open doors leading into the garages living quarters.
Charley's Voice slowly rose in pitch punctured every now and then by Throttles placed tone as he attempted to sooth the irate mechanic. A masculine yelp suddenly rang out as another series of clangs and pings could be heard right before the Tan furred male came sprinting back into the garage.
"Evasive maneuver thirty seven Bro's!" he said as he spotted them and shifted direction.
" But that's for use in situations involving nuclear fusion weapons?" Modo said as Throttle ducked beside the desk.
" I would recommend it." Throttle replied grimly as he glanced back towards the doors as if he expected the injured mechanic to come flying through them at any second. "Vinnie…yo." Throttle started only to be cut off mid word by the white furred male.
" No way!..You agreed to the switch today."
"Besides If you'd heard even half the things she threatened to do to me this morning with rusty kitchen scissors and rubbing alcohol you wouldn't even think of asking!" Vinnie interjected while holding his hands up as if toward off the tan males request.
" If Norman Bates got with Dexter for a day to hash out their kinkiest fantasies the two of them together still couldn't even come close to half the fifty shades of saw that female somehow managed to think of in a twenty minute period." he finished with a visible shudder.
"Modo?" Throttle said hopefully turning towards the grey male." Sorry Bro I've got night watch this evening." Modo replied shaking his head.
" Oh for Pete's sake she's just getting a little stir crazy because you guys won't let her do more than wiggle her pinky …." Chair said rolling her eyes at the male's antics.
"We're just trying to make sure she doesn't push herself to hard and overdo it is all… and in spite of her insistence otherwise we haven't actually been following her everywhere she goes. Throttle said as he stood and leaned his hip against the desk.
"Oh? Sooo… Charley didn't.. find one of you standing outside of the bathroom, when she took her shower yesterday?" Chair asked wryly, raising one eyebrow and glancing around at the group. Throttle shot an exasperated look in Vinnie's direction at this.
"Hey! It wasn't me." Vinnie said indignantly. "Well I know it wasn't me..so that just leaves…" Throttle started then trailed off turning along with the other two to stare at Modo in surprise as he flushed slightly.
" I was worried she might slip." he mumbled reaching up to rub awkwardly at the back of his neck. Chair snorted rather inelegantly and bit down on her bottom lip as she fought not to laugh. While she stared up at him her lips twitching with the effort, as she made a very poor attempt to smoother it. Before she finally gave in and began to openly laugh at the large male's rather obvious embarrassment at being caught.
" It could have happened." Modo insisted as he narrowed his gaze at her a playful spark entering his eye as he stared at her. Chair froze mid laugh her mouth dropping open in blatant surprise as Modo's tail suddenly swung up to tweak the end of her nose.
" D-did..you seriously just flick me… on the nose?" Chair said in bewildered shock as she glanced over at the grey furred Martian. Who merely shrugged his mouth twisting into an unrepentant grin as both Throttle and Vinnie chuckled at her under their breath.
Chair snapped her mouth closed at this narrowing her eyes at each of them in scathing annoyance before she reached up to try and flick the grey Martian back on the nose with her fingers. Only to fall short (literally) as she lost her balance and fell forward to bop her nose painfully against Modo's chest, reaching up to cup it with a muffled "ow!" That prompted all three males to laugh, as she crossed her arms and huffed indignantly at them.
" If it weren't for the fact that I know Charley would skin me if I turned you three loose in her kitchen. I'd make you guys fix your own lunch for that." Chair said sourly as she turned to stalk across the room with the mice still snickering behind her.
"Unless you're wanting your portion of the dog's burnt extra crispy today, I'd go try and make amends if I were you Bro" Throttle said glancing over at Modo with a chuckle blinking in surprise as he realized the other male was already halfway across the room as he followed after the blond female.
"Don't look now Bro but I think Casanova's finally getting ready to make some moves." Vinnie commented wryly as Modo disappeared through the doors leading out of the main part of the garage. "Bought damn time to, Guys slower than molasses when it comes to this stuff." he added with a grin. "Pot meet kettle." Throttle muttered under his breath with a small eye roll.
"You say something Bro?" Vinnie asked curiously glancing in the tan furred male's direction. "Just agreeing with you." Throttle replied with a shrug turning to stare at the now empty doorway with a small grin.
Chair pulled the hotdogs out of the fridge and briefly toyed with idea of surprising the guys with a large veggie dish along the lines of salad, or something equally likely to cause the heavy carb and protein munching males' jaws to drop in shocked horror.
She went about opening the six family sized packages of generic hotdogs, chuckling at the mental images her salad musings conjured up. Even as she disregarded the notion on the grounds of cruel and unusual punishment …plus they didn't have any of the fixings on hand for her to put one together anyway.
Chair paused as she saw Modo entering the kitchen the large male halting briefly in the doorway before making his way over to her. " Need any help" he asked amiably. Chair tried to shoot a stern look at him but found she couldn't maintain it as he stared down at her his expression contrite and his ears drooping sadly in that almost puppyish way of his.
(Oh that's so not fare expressions like that should be illegal… I mean really just how is a girl supposed to resist that look) Chair thought irritably to herself as she glanced down at the open package in her hands before giving a small shrug.
" I guess I could use some help setting up the griddle." Chair said carful to keep her gaze angled away so she wouldn't be tempted to cave more at the sight of his puppy dog eyes.
Modo beamed at her as if she'd offered him a gift. Instead of a menial task and set off getting the cooking surface set up. Chair finished opening the rest of packages as she watched the large male out of the corner of her eye. Scrunching her nose up at herself in annoyance when she realized she was never actually going to be able to stay mad at him, especially when he kept making that damn face.
Grabbing one of the open packages Chair made her way over to stand beside the grey male as he fiddled with the griddle, giving him a small nudge with her hip to let him know to make room for her to stand next to him at the counter. To her surprise Modo resisted a moment, Causing Chair to dart a small glare in his direction aware there was very little chance of her actually moving him on her own if he didn't let her.
Modo grinned down at her mischievously a second before obligingly shifting a bit to the side just enough to almost but not quite make, enough room for her to move up beside him. Chair felt an answering spark of playfulness ramp up inside of her at the small challenge and decided to throw down her own gauntlet wracking her brain for a response.
Chair lifted her leg up as an idea suddenly occurred to her, and quickly planted her knee firmly into the back of his in a move he'd taught her to knock an opponent off balance. Then altered it by almost simultaneously shifting to lean her full weight against his side, the move much to her surprise actually succeeding in causing him to stumble a half inch or so.
Modo stared down at her in shocked disbelief his mouth dropping slightly as she grinned up at him in unexpected triumph. Chair found her victory short lived however as Modo's slack mouth suddenly twisted up into a lopsided grin similar to the ones he and the other mice got right before a bought of wrestling began, an oddly predatory glint entering his eye that had her rethinking her previous actions.
" Uh…"Chair started nervously her words transforming into a squeal as Modo's tail suddenly shot up to ruffle through her hair, causing the array of bobby pins she had securing it to scatter across the kitchen floor as it cascaded down in a wild mess.
A stunned silence briefly over taking her Chair shifted so that she was staring up at Modo through the loose curtain of her curls as they flopped around her face in disarray breathing heavily as she regarded him in startled shock.
"You did not…. I can't believe… I mean yo-you …YOU!" She finished on a growl her eyes narrowing into a glare as she gripped the package of hotdogs a split second before she flung them at him.
" Hey now." Modo said snagging them out of the air with a laugh." Don't go wasting the eats over a little horse …er... mouse play." he added grinning down at her.
"The Eats!?"
" Who cares about the eats!" Chair said her hands flying to her hips. "You just gave me a damn Noogie with your tail!" She said with irritation.
"What's a noogie?" Modo asked placing the package to the side.
" Bend down and I'll demonstrate with those antennas of yours." Chair answered darkly as she continued to glare up at him.
Modo flinched slightly at the image this conjured up "ah…I think I'll pass on that one." he replied wrinkling his nose at her.
Chair snorted the corners of her lips twitching slightly as she stared up at the stone furred male, amused despite her aggravation with him.
Modo caught his breath at the sight of Chair glaring up at him eyes sparking in temper, her hair spilling in a mussed waterfall of gold spirals and her lips pursed together in a tight line. The Martian behemoth's shoulders knotting uncomfortably as he tried to tamp down the urge that hit him to kiss the scowl off her face. Realizing that a move like that probably wouldn't receive the reaction he was hoping for at this point, and attempted to be content with simply nuzzling the top of her head instead.
Chairs eyes widened in surprise as Modo suddenly circled her waist with his tail tugging her towards him and lifting her up slightly as he bent to rub his cheek across her head affectionately.
" Modo!?...what are you doing?" Chair asked the words coming out in a breathless croak as he gently settled her back on her feet.
Modo stared at her a moment before smiling crookedly as he shrugged one shoulder. "Your shorter than Charley.. so it's harder for me to reach you." he replied enigmatically as if that somehow answered everything.
"Uh..no that's not what..."Chair started only to stop as Vinnies shout of Hey what's taking so long with the grub echoed through the room. Modo's eye briefly closed in irritation at the interruption "That's the second time.. Vin… I swear I'm gonna tie your antennas in a knot" he muttered under his breath.
Chair experienced a sudden attack of nerves as he opened his eye once more to stare into hers. The large male's whole demeanor seeming to change as his expression shifted from mildly aggravated to pensive.
Chair felt her breathing pick up even as she noticed Modo's do the same as they regarded one another silently, the air between them taking on an almost electric charge as his tail unwound from its current position around her waist to drop down, and brush lightly against the back of her bare legs in a whisper soft caress.
"Chair I…" he started only to halt as She rushed to cut him off.
"Tell you what why don't we finish this conversation some other time!"
"You go ahead and head back out with the guys and see if you can stave off that bottomless pit we call Vinnie for a few more minutes and I'll finish up here." Chair said smiling to take the sting out of the fact she was more or less kicking him out of the kitchen.
"Besides I think I'm more likely to actually get lunch done with you OUT of my hair." she added wryly as she reached up to push a handful of loose curls back from her face.
Modo wanted to protest at the abrupt brush off but somehow managed to swallow it back down. "Alright." he replied with forced cheerfulness. While reluctantly removing his tail from where it had briefly wrapped around Chairs ankle. Using it to scoop up a few of the pins from the floor, and lifting them up to offer to her.
Chair accepted them with a rueful smile bending slightly to begin attempting to re-tame her locks, as Modo watched her for a second his expression inscrutable before he turned wordlessly to head back out of the kitchen.
Sensing as he moved away Chair glanced up to watch him leave the smile slowly melting from her face as she watched his retreating form disappear through the door, fully aware of the underlying tension that now stretched between them, despite the playful atmosphere that had existed only moments before. It hurt her to watch him leave, but she just didn't feel she was ready to face that particular talk yet, not with the slew of doubts and questions still churning away inside of her at that moment in time.
" I really need to talk to Charley." she finally whispered out loud to herself. With the thought that opening up to the mechanic would at least give her someone else in a similar situation to talk to, and who might actually be able to answer a handful of the questions currently plaguing Chair as well.
Chair turned and blithely began setting hotdogs onto the surface of the griddle. The mundane task of cooking giving her something else to try an occupy her thoughts with, besides the shifting dynamics of her and Modo's friendship.
Chair finished placing the last of the hotdogs down and stood silently a moment starring down at the sizzling surface without actually seeing it. As her thoughts refused to be silenced, and instead chased themselves in ever tightening circles, until she felt almost sick from them.
Chair realized that continuing to refer to herself and Modo as just friends wasn't really going to do much to hold off the turmoil of her current emotions. Because despite her fears about turning what they already had into an intimate relationship, and her avoidance just now of the conversation she had a feeling was coming. Chair couldn't seem to help herself when she was around him.
It didn't help matters that He was the first person she saw in the morning, and the last in the evening either, and even with that time together Chair found she missed him during the course of the day when they we're both busy.
But when they were together He was constantly doing or saying things that had her slipping a little more over that indefinable edge each day. Hell just the thought of him alone had her feeling all warm and fuzzy inside. Chair new herself well enough to realize that last bit probably meant she was in way more trouble than she had originally thought.
She had also caught Modo staring at her a few times recently in a way that she didn't feel was strictly in the friend sense any longer either.
Which she had mixed feelings about as well, on the one hand she liked the thought that he possibly found her physically attractive. But on the other, she was afraid that it wasn't really her he was attracted to so much, as she was just the only other female besides Charley available to him, and she wondered if presented with the option of another women or a female mouse, if he'd still feel the same way about her.
Either way Chair realized that ready or not she now stood at a crossroad. The only thing that really remained was whether or not she was willing to risk what they had together by moving forward, or possibly damaging it by trying to ignore what was building between them.
Chair ran a hand forcefully through her already disheveled hair in agitation at herself for re-having what amounted to nearly the same damn mental conversation a second time around. Over whether or not her and Modo should just remain friends or not, and wondered when the heck everything in her life had gotten so complicated.
Chair directed a snort of derision internally at that particularly gross understatement because saying things in this situation were complicated was definitely putting it mildly.
When faced with the realty that she was more or less falling for her best friend, who happened to be a giant talking Motorcycle riding Mouse from outer space with psychic powers. Chair had the niggling impression that someone upstairs was having a really good laugh at her expense.
To top it off she couldn't seem to keep her hands off of him either. Practically molesting his tail at their first meeting then nearly rubbing his face in her cleavage, Followed by the thing with the taboo touching of his antenna and the whole straddling his junk incident …Chair reached up to rub a hand over her eyes as she recalled the events in question. (When the Hell did my life transform into a friggen romantic comedy spoof of the twilight zone) Chair thought irritably fighting against the urge to blush at the memories.
The smell of burning meat suddenly pulled Chair from her inner musings "Shit!" she swore adamantly as she scrambled to save what was left of the dogs from their fiery fate. Managing to rescue the majority but somehow burning her hand in the process of pulling the last one off the hot griddle
"Crap!..Can't I do anything without injuring myself?" Chair hissed sharply as she pulled her stinging digits up for inspection, flinching at the blistered and angry red mark that spanned the side of her wrist leading up to the tip of her pinky.
"I'm a walking disaster." Chair mumbled self-depreciatively as she tried not to cry in pure frustration at the whole mess emotional and otherwise. Chair quickly walked across the room to place her hand under the tap a moment, allowing the cooling stream of water to help ease the worst of the stinging pain. Before she wrapped it loosely in a clean dishtowel, and went about trying to finish the last of the prep for lunch one handed.
Chair was just starting the slow process of trying to set the table, when Charley hobbled in pausing as she took in the sight of a rather frazzled looking Chair. A cheery flower printed terry cloth wrapped loosely around one hand and only about half of her hair pinned up, the bigger portion appearing to have escaped to hamper her by falling directly into her eyes. A large tray of hotdogs balanced precariously against her hip. While she attempted to maneuver it one handed completed the odd sight, as she tried to avoid the pain of using her injured limb.
"Need some help?" Charley asked raising one eyebrow curiously as she took note of everything including the rag currently wrapped around Chairs right hand.
Despite her present difficulties Chair shot Charley an amused look at the offer, as the mechanic began painstakingly limping her way across the room, with all the grace and speed of an eighty year old.
"What? And risk the wrath of your three fury protectors? I think not." Chair replied her expression and tone teasing even as she struggled to maneuver the cumbersome tray, finally managing to set it onto the kitchen table with a little extra heave from her hip.
Charley snorted at the comment as she watched Chair push the tray one handed into the center of the table . "Don't tell me you're going to start treating me like I'm glass to." Charley muttered irritably as she made her way over to sit down, as Chair began setting the table.
"Chair?" Charley said quizzically after a moment as she watched the blond haired women continue to place the utensils and other items down one handed.
"Yes?" Chair responded distractedly, glancing over at her.
"Why is your hand wrapped in my dish towel?" Charley asked in amusement.
"Oh err…I burnt it." Chair answered looking down at it almost in surprise as if she'd forgotten.
"Oh well.. is that all...I swear…And they follow me around like I need to be in a bubble." Charley mumbled dryly reaching up to rub the bridge of her nose. "How bad is it?" she asked a concerned frown twisting down the edges of her mouth.
"I'm not sure..It hurts but I don't really think it's too bad I just sort of borrowed the towel to wrap it in for the moment." Chair replied briefly looking down at her injured limb then back at the auburn haired mechanic.
"You do realize I have a first aid kit right?" Charley asked with an exasperated glance at the bright flower printed cloth wrapped around Chair's hand.
"Yes..I know sorry.. its just..I really need to talk to you." Chair said mildly embarrassed but suddenly realizing that this was a chance for her to finally speak with Charley alone.
"So you burnt your hand and wrapped it in a towel?" Charley replied in bewilderment. " seems a bit extreme don't you think?"
"No that's not what I…"Chair suddenly trailed off as she took in the laughter dancing in Charley's eyes and realized the younger women was just messing with her.
"You brat…I've half a mind to let Vinnie or one of the others know ,you've been sneaking parts for that new stealth system, you've been developing up to your room to work on when they're not looking." Chair said glowering over at her in annoyance.
"Oh yeah? well how about I just call out that you've injured yourself again, and we see how fast it takes a certain grey individual to haul his tail in here to cart you off to play doctor." Charley responded wryly her lips turning up into a smug grin as Chair scrunched her nose at her in irritation.
"You wouldn't dare." Chair said narrowing her gaze at the auburn haired mechanic.
"Oh?...Wouldn't I?" Charley responded quirking one eye brow up and grinning toothily before turning her head to call over her shoulder " Oh Mo.."
"Wait!" Chair interjected a flash of mild panic crossing her face. "I really do need to talk to you in private for just a moment..please!" Chair rushed out.
Charley paused then turned back to face her curiously "Alright..but if I were you I'd hurry the guys aren't going to hold off much longer on filing in here, especially with food on the table… I'm honestly surprised they haven't made their way in here already."
"I'm not really sure it's the kind of conversation you rush…"Chair started then trailed off her expression suddenly strained as she used her uninjured hand to push back a handful of loose curls and tuck them behind one ear.
"But… I'm not sure now that I have you alone for a moment, that I can bring myself to wait to have it ether." she finished with a sigh turning to stare back at Charley, whose eyes widened at the implications as she regarded her.
"Oh..uh I think you better take a seat." Charley said gesturing to the one next to her.
"Pull up a chair..Chair." Charley added her lips quirking up at her attempt at humor.
Chair slanted a dower look in her direction even as she took the proffered seat. "Hardee har har like I haven't heard that one before." Chair responded dryly.
Charley hunched her shoulders sheepishly "Sorry relationship talks without the benefit of morphine make me uncomfortable." Charley mumbled contritely.
"I'm not sure this falls strictly into the realm of a relationship talk per say but...I do have some questions about certain things I'd like to run by you." Chair said setting her elbow on the table and leaning forward to rest her head against the palm of her hand as she studied the scuffed surface.
"OK?..Shoot." Charley said after a brief moment of silence had stretched between them.
Chair took a steadying breath then heaved it out on a sighed puff of air, before she turned once more to look the younger women in the eye.
"Alright…I might ..mind you MIGHT be entertaining the idea.. of there possibly being more between myself and ..a certain someone… That you mentioned before…likes me. Because… I think I like him that way to and… Hell I suck at phrasing this stuff; that sounds like something from a middle school based movie drama…" Chair muttered scrubbing her uninjured hand across her face in agitation.
Charley snorted then bite down on her lip to keep from actually laughing. "Not that I have a lot of experience with these particular types of conversations but are you sure.. this isn't a relationship talk? An I'll take your word on the whole movie thing. Because personally I can't even make it through the commercials for those things …I don't need to start clapping my hands in preparation for a musical number here do I?" Charley said in an attempt to lighten the moment and ease some of the tension almost rolling off Chair in waves.
"Oh shut up I'm making an effort here" Chair replied wryly sticking her tongue out and glaring over at the auburn haired mechanic with mock irritation. "…there's just a few things I'd like to know a little more about.. Before I decide how I want to proceed is all." She added relaxing a bit as the lighthearted teasing succeeded in helping to ease the knotted ball of nerves, which currently sat in her guts like a lead weight.
Charley lifted her hands in supplication while giving Chair a crooked grin "Ok, ok I'll behave. What do you need to know?" she said suppressing a chuckle.
"Ok first things first I guess…What's with the tail touching and cheek rubbing?" Chair asked leaning back in her seat as she faced the auburn haired mechanic.
"Err… the What now?" Charley said wrinkling her forehead in confusion.
"You know..The … grabby thing they do with their tails and the brushing or rubbing cheek thing they do..I geeze I don't know how else to put it." Chair said waving her right hand vaguely up in the air and flinching as a sharp pain reminded her of her injury. "Ow". She mumbled irritably as Charley continued to stare at her like she'd flipped her gourd.
"Cheek rubbing and grabby tai?...oh that!" Charley replied her eyes widening in sudden comprehension.
"Oh.. that What?" Chair asked suddenly nervous.
"Its well..as far as I know its mostly just a cultural thing…"Charley said with a small shrug.
"So ..I've been making a big to do over the Martian equivalent of a handshake?" Chair asked despondently oddly disappointed at the thought.
"Well…no its not exactly like that." Charley answered
"Well? What is it exactly like then?!" Chair said in exasperation.
Charley snorted out a laugh at the put out expression that appeared on Chair's face "ok..ok take a breath." she said leaning forward slightly to pat the irritated dancers knee.
"Since Throttle shared part of their history with you via mind walking. You're already aware they have certain ability's and senses besides our standard five. The tail touching just sort of ties in with their telepathy. Their empathic to a certain extent but a good portion of what they pick up is through touching directly…so they usually use their tails or do something along those lines as a more casual way to accomplish this."
"Wait! So..their reading our Minds?!" Chair interrupted her expression suddenly distressed.
"No..well at least not in the sense your thinking at least. Its emotion based mostly to my understanding unless they use their antennas the things they convey and pick up are fairly muted" Charley replied.
"Do they just do it with anybody around them?" Chair asked relief easing some of the tension from her at the reassurance that Modo did not in fact know her every thought.
"Well.. no." Charley answered again
"This explanation of yours has a lot of wells." Chair muttered irritably as she fiddled with a broken off piece of hotdog bun that had fallen on the table.
"You wanna hear it or not." Charley asked dryly narrowing her eyes back at her.
"Sorry ..tell on Obi-mouse-Kenobi." Chair responded deadpan giving a stiff half bow and gesturing imperiously for her to continue.
Charley shot her an annoyed look and rolled her eyes at this but continued "No they don't just run around touching everyone they encounter. Their an empathic species and read certain things through touch, so by the same token its considered rude to just touch or grab someone like that without reason… in fact with the exception of very close friends and family they don't usually do it."
" There's a bit more to it then what I'm getting across here and this is definitely overly simplified but… the mice used to belong to groups or clans on mars and since their telepathic and empathic ,the touching was just a normal part of their social structure."
"Especially in the smaller ones which mostly consisted of direct family members. Parents, siblings ,Aunts uncles cousins and the like, for them it's a way to reassure themselves that those important to them are actually ok…"
"the bigger clans were disbanded for various reasons before the start of the war and most of them live in smaller groups and settlements now, but the family mind set is still rather ingrained the more personal the connection to the individual the more frequent the touching. When it comes to those they care about, they require that feedback and their brains are pretty much hardwired to seek it." Charley finished with another shrug.
"Family?" Chair commented curiously starring at Charley with an odd look on her face. Thst caused the mechanic to grin in response.
" I'm going to go out on a limb here and assume the reason you're asking all these questions about tail touching and stuff..is because it's been happening rather frequently to you. Sooo..Welcome to the family Chair." she answered cheekily giving an exaggerated wink.
Chair scrunched her nose and flicked the piece of hotdog bun at her, but found she was actually pleased at the thought of being considered family by Modo, and possibly the others as well... Although her heart gave a sad dip as it suddenly occurred to her that maybe she had misread things after all, and he wasn't really looking for a relationship, and only viewed her in a sisterly or similar fashion.
"Wait that explains the tails but what about the cheek brushing thing?" Chair asked, glancing back up at from where she'd been studying some of the deeper groves in the table top, to meet Charley's gaze once more.
"That's actually a little more complicated to explain." Charley answered sheepishly
"Ah…of course because none of the rest of the stuff involving males not only from another culture but from a completely different PLANEThas been complicated." Chair said with wry sarcasm.
"Hey ! at least you have me for the Martian male 411. I had to learn all this crap on my own! On top of some other really awkward situations."
"You ever have to explain the concept of what can and cannot be flushed down a toilet to a grown man..err..male..mouse .Oh hell! you know what I mean."
" The first week was like having a house full of fury buff Neanderthals' with the mentality of five year olds and no concept of privacy, doors or repair costs. I had to walk them through how to use nearly everything including the shampoo in the shower" Charley responded tersely.
"Sorry" chair said abashed. It had never really occurred to her, what everything must have been like for the younger women, when she first encountered the Martian males. Chair at least had come into this with Charley already aware of everything for the most part and able to act as guide when needed. Charley herself had, had to navigate it all on her own.
"Its alright." Charley replied letting out a small puff of air as she watched Chair fiddle nervously with a frayed bit of string hanging from the rag wrapped around her injured hand.
" I understand the frustration, but please bear in mind that despite everything. I'm a mechanic not an alien emissary or the like, so I'm probably not going to do the greatest job at explaining all this stuff… but I am trying ok."
"The cheek brushing thing ..is a little different than the tail it's an affection thing for family. but not the same as the tails.. as far as I know it's only used for females in the group, and young children ..and under certain circumstances it's a bit like a kiss on the cheek but..not .. quite"
"They do pick up things through the contact but it also has something to do with scent marking.. I think.. I'm not sure exactly how to put it …Carbine actually explained it to me better than the guys, but I really don't think I'm getting it across right. Just like the clan thing there's a lot more to it than just that.."
"In fact these things actually have different names than what I'm using, but I'm trying to use the closest earth equivalents I can think of" Charley finished with a sigh reaching up to rub at her temple as if fighting against a sudden headache.
"That's ok I think I get the gist of it." Chair said her expression one of distant thought as she mulled over everything she'd just learned.
"Chair?" Charley inquired after giving her a few more minutes to reflect on what she'd just told her.
"Hmmm?" Chair responded distractedly blinking as she refocused her gaze on the Charley once more.
"Was that all you needed for now?" Charley asked an odd glint in her eye.
"Oh .. uh ..yeah I guess..I mean yes thank you." Chair said with mild confusion as she studied the mechanic before her.
"Good." Charley replied with a wide grin, before turning towards the kitchen door and yelling.
"MODO! GET IN HERE! CHAIR'S HURT!"
Chairs jaw dropped briefly in disbelief snapping back shut again as Charley slowly turned back to face her with the grin still plastered across her face.
"Why..you.. I should beat your ass with this damn tray." Chair muttered darkly as she narrowed her eyes at the silently laughing mechanic,
Chair continued to glare in irritation glancing between the door ,and a slightly hunched Charley as she shook with quit laughter, one hand wrapped around her ribs to help brace against the discomfort. As the distant sound of a thump followed by Vinnies pained yelp of "Ouch!That was my tail you just stomped on!" filtered through the walls.
"You just wait I will find a way to get you back for that." Chair hissed a split second before the sound of heavy footsteps headed rapidly in their direction reached them.