(W.W.T.) Despite my typical long winded introduction. This actually isn't a very long chapter at least not by my usual standards. after I finished the last one I actually wished I'd shown some more parts of it from Modo's point of veiw as well, but since I had already done the majority of it from Chair's, I decided to just go ahead and move things forward instead… except our resident Giant Grey furred sweetie kept tapping insistently on my muses window..all the while requesting to have his say on things to. So after a few hours of beating my head against the key board, I gave in and gave it to him. And even with the fact that a large portion of this chapter is more or less the same as the last ' albeit from another perspective I'm still happy with how it came out, and I Promise loads more fluffy goodies in the next one. Mostly because I want them to enjoy at least one chapter of happy couple related bliss, before I go ahead and bring in Limburger and his goons. Crank up the angst and let the feces hit the oscillator…so to speak.
Disclaimer: Seriously Bmfm not mine. Believe me if I owned them they would have all been married and each saddled with a truck load of adorable and ridiculously wild kiddo's, Along looonng time ago. I do however own my Oc Chair and the idea for this particular story.
I'd also like to leave a special shout out to Sushan, Kela-ashes Eviline and Youkai55 for their reviews on the last chapter and to everyone else who has left reviews and feedback on this story. It honestly makes my day to hear how much you're enjoying it so far. And a very big thanks to Sushan for emailing me the proper Finnish translation for chapter seven. I've gone back and made the corrections to it now, thank you so much for taking the time to send that to me.
Chapter 12 [Free Fall in the name of Love]
Modo came too slowly an odd assortment of confusing noises filtering through his sleep fogged thoughts, including what appeared to be (Vinnie?) Screeching almost in falsetto, The sound pulling him from the deep sleep he'd finally fallen into. What seemed like only minutes before the sun was due to rise.
Blinking slowly he turned to squint groggily in the direction of the sounds, But his line of sight was partially blocked by a small shelving unite. However having spent the majority of his childhood and adult years around both Throttle and Vinnie. Modo new his Bro's well enough to pick up on when one was genuinely in distress or not, and while Vinnie was currently making a rather loud fuss, there was nothing in his tone that indicated fear or pain. So it was with no real sense of urgency that the grey furred male began to get to his feet.
Stifling a yawn Modo gingerly sat up; wincing at a sharp stab of pain that passed through his neck and shoulders at the movement, and released a deep groan as he stood. Stretching a bit as he did to try and loosen up the stiff knot of muscles, that currently made up his back, after the unnatural slump his body had been reclined in the majority of the night.
. The gray furred male took a step away from the seat he'd been sleeping on, while trying to ignore how much he felt like he'd been backed over, by a Posse of Limburgers goons. Then parked on top of for good measure.
Swaying slightly on his feet Modo stopped and yawned again, standing in place a second longer as, he waited for his body to wake a little more before he, started across the room once more, Headed in the younger mouse's general direction to see what all his carrying on was about.
Modo paused right before rounding the shelf wrinkling his noise in distaste as he was struck by the acidic smell of vomit, and preceded forward at a slightly slower pace. Clearing the corner of the shelving unite just in time to see Chair disappearing through the doors to the garages main living area. Apologizing profusely as she high tailed it from the room, Trailed more slowly by a dismayed Vinnie
"Aw man these boots are pure Martian Noga hide leather –do you have any idea how hard that's gonna be to clean-an -Oh Gaah! I –I think its on my pants to! And O-oh in the name of Mars! …CHARLEY!"Vinnie ranted his disgust tinged voce gradually rising to a Shout as he passed through the archway as well.
Modo blinked then reached up to scrub a hand over his face, briefly wondering if he wouldn't have been better off just staying asleep. As his still waking brain and body tried to link up enough to process what exactly was going on, before he gave up and simply followed in the wake of the fleeing duo.
A while later after the worst of the morning's fiasco was out of the way. Modo stood in the kitchen helping Charley finish setting the table, and was just in the process of placing the last plate on the table. When the sound of a soft groan carried to his ears causing him look at the auburn haired mechanic in concern.
"You ok Charley-ma'am" he asked worriedly glancing sharply in her direction. Smiling reassuringly over at him as she slowly straitened back up from her side of the table, Charley stood and stiffly made her way back around it to stand next to him as she answered
"Fine still just a bit sore is all..but thanks for asking big guy. And for helping to set everything out. I really appreciate it." She said warmly leaning over to give him a half armed hug. "You're welcome. But you know you don't have to thank me for that" Modo murmured as he carefully returned the embrace, before Charley pulled away again.
"I know but I'm going to anyway. I'm also gonna go dig around and see if I can find a spare set of sweats for Vinnie to use. You mind letting Throttle know the foods ready?"She asked steping back to look up at him.
Modo smiled "No problem Charley-girl, be back in just a sec."He replied before heading out in search of his tan furred Bro. Modo had just cleared the entrance to the den on his way towards the main part of the garage when he ran into the mouse in question." Charley said to let you know the chows done. Better get to it while it's still hot"
Throttle grinned "Hey-you can call me a lot of things but late to eat isn't usually one of 'em" he replied chuckling. They had learned during their first year with the feisty mechanic that she could be stricter than any army or freedom fighter mess hall chief, and while she may be willing to make the meals for had best show up when she said it was time to, or be prepared to fend for themselves, or eat it cold.
"How's Chair holding up? Modo asked with tinge of concern, before the other male could make his way past him. He hadn't really been able to check up on her himself earlier since she had more or less locked herself in the bathroom and hadn't come back out until after he had went to help Charley in the kitchen. Only briefly poking her head in to ask Charley where she kept the cleaning supplies before disappearing back out into the garage.
"She still seemed a bit on the green side to me, but better then she was. I don't think she'll be accepting anymore rides from Vin in the near future though… Not that I think he'll be offering anytime soon either" Throttle answered with another chuckle, moving in the direction of the kitchen once more.
"I gave her a plate of apple slices like you suggested, but it probably wouldn't hurt to ask her if she wants anything else before its gone" Throttle added over his shoulder as he passed through the door.
Modo would have gone to check on Chair even without the suggestion from the tan furred male, but was still glad to have the additional excuse, as he moved out into the main part of the Garage in search of the curly haired female.
Glancing around he spotted her right as she stepped off the bench she'd apparently been using as a stool up onto the lower portion of one of the garages old shelving units. Uncomfortable with her precarious perch, Modo was already in heading towards her a split second before the low creak of metal reached his ears and the bottom part of the shelf in gave out under her feet.
Alarmed he quickly jumped forward the last few feet, breathing out in a relieved rush as he just managed to catch her. Modo's pulse hammered loudly in his ears as he pulled her up against his chest, and He had a vague notion that if his fur wasn't already on the grey side. The curvy little female's accident prone tendencies, coupled with her penchant for climbing up on random pieces of furniture would eventually lead to something on that particular color scheme for him.
"Are you ok" He asked wincing internally as his voice came out more like a strained croak. As Chair turned slightly in his grip to glance back at him over her shoulder, "Y-yeah..sorry" she stammered her sea green eyes wide and startled as they meet his own.
Despite her reassurance Modo still hesitated a moment longer with her in his arms, having been around her long enough at this point to know, That Chair didn't really like to draw a lot of attention to herself, and had a tendency to down play her own injuries. So before setting her down he ran a quick assessing gaze over her just to be sure. She might not be quite as openly tough and outgoing in the face of things as their feisty mechanic, but his girl could be just as stubborn in her own ways at times as well.
Modo froze as it dawned on him that he'd just thought of Chair as his girl, His arms tightening around her unconsciously as the realization was accompanied by a small sense of possessiveness…
Although he knew he didn't necessarily have the right to be thinking about her in those particular terms as of yet, and the uncertainty that immediately accompanied that line of thought was nerve wracking for him, because while he knew and had known for sometime how he felt or was starting to feel about the female currently in his arms… he still wasn't completely sure where he stood when it came to her end of things.
"uh-Modo?" Modo blinked coming back to himself at the sound of Chairs voice. "You can put me down now..if you want."Chair mumbled nervously as she stared at him over her shoulder.
(Well as my grey furred Mama always says, sometimes the best approach is a more direct one.) he thought fleetingly as he gazed down at the female still clutched securely in his arms. But things along these particular lines had never really been his strong suit… So he just went with his gut and said the first thing that popped into his head.
"And if-I don't want to?" Modo flinched internally but steadily held Chairs gaze, It might not have been the most witty response on his part… but seeing as he enjoyed holding her and had no real desire to set her down. It was at least an honest one.
Modo felt Chairs breathe stutter a moment before her heart rate speed up enough that he could practically hear, as well as feel where it thumped madly against the underside of her chest. Chair tensed a second before she responded.
"Well I'm a bigger gal, so I'm sure your arms are bound to get tired eventually" She finally answered despite her casual tone her voice held an odd note he couldn't place, as she wriggled restlessly in his grip, while attempting to stretch her legs down enough to reach the concrete floor below. Modo felt his mouth pull into a grim line at her words as he slowly complied with her unvoiced request and gently lowered her to the ground.
Modo didn't really know what he had expected in response to his admittedly clumsy attempt at-Heck he wasn't even completely sure what he'd been trying to accomplish with that particular ardent comment… but he did know that- that wasn't the reaction he was looking for.
" I wish you wouldn't talk about yourself that way." he murmured with a small frown. He wasn't really sure why but-it bothered him that her weight was the first thing she went to, almost as if it was something that she needed to throw out there as quickly as possible… like she thought it was suddenly going to have some kind of effect on how he saw her.
While Chair was admittedly a far cry from the muscular long limbed females he was usually attracted to, with her soft curves and full figure he more than liked the way she looked, and he was male enough to admit it. Not that he was only attracted to her physically , If that had been the case he would have been content to leave things as they were between them, but it wasn't- there was just something about the plucky dancer that he couldn't really put into words, that had drawn him almost from the very beginning.
But while there were a lot of things he noticed about her and made little mental notes about to file away for later, not once had her weight ever factored into anything for him, and he really didn't understand why she seemed so worried about it. Heck compared to him she was a bit on the small side which he found a little worrisome for a few reasons he really wasn't ready to think too hard on as of yet…
. Modo refocused his full attention back to Chair once more as she turned to face him and tugged nervously at the bottom of the thigh length tunic top she was wearing. "Well I'm sure it's obvious to everyone, including you that I'm not exactly a twig." she said with an almost false brightness in her voice pausing briefly before continuing "I know your aware I'm not just big boned here…in fact the three letters used most often to describe me in high school were F.A. and T" Chair said her teasing tone at odds with the faint trace of hurt hiding under the words.
Modo stood quietly as he took in her statement unsure exactly how to respond to her out of the blue self directed attack…But now that he thought about it this wasn't the first time Chair had made comments along these particular lines about herself and Modo was starting to realize that when she was nervous or uncomfortable …she had a tendency to go on an odd sort of defensive, were she would start throwing out a stream of self aimed barbs that she barley coated with a touch of skewed humor. Although this was by far the most vehement she'd ever been about it, since he'd known her.
"No your…" Modo started to say wanting to head her off before she could add anymore, only to have his response cut off by Chairs own. "What? You want to pretty it up a bit?" She gestured vaguely towards herself as she went on "-Chunky? Plump?".
"Perfect." Modo interjected firmly as he meet her startled gaze. Chair froze mid word and simply gazed up at him her eyes widening. Modo shifted uncomfortably as Chair just stood there staring at him in silence her stunned expression reminding him a bit of a deer in the headlights as he waited for her response.
"Modo what are we?"
Caught off guard by the unexpected question Modo found himself experiencing his own moment of surprise, as he stood starring down into Chairs unsure and tense expression. Before the odd brand of humor that was natural to him and his bro's showed its self long enough, to help lighten the moment, as he replied, a playful smile quirking up the corners of his mouth as he finally answered
"well…I'm a Martian Mouse and you're a female earthling." He teased breaking off on a low chuckle as Chair glared at him irritably and gave him a light pop on the arm for his trouble.
"No" she grumbled, fidgeting nervously as she went on. "What I mean is…what are we?-are we just..friends or-what I'm trying to say is..Gad! I'm really not good at explaining this stuff!...Its just..I've been getting some mixed signals lately and I just wanted to know… what exactly we are in relation to each other…"She murmured in a low voice almost whispering the last part as she glanced back up to meet his gaze once more before falling silent.
Modo experienced a rush of nervousness himself as he took in Chairs response. Despite the fact that he had more or less been trying to lead up to a conversation along these lines for awhile now. Realizing she was still waiting for him to say something. "What do you want us to be?" He finally managed watching the play of emotions that danced across her features.
Chair opened then closed her mouth a moment as she looked up at him before finally answering. "I like us as friends." Modo tensed fighting the spike of disappointment that passed through him before she went on "but I'm open to there being more-between us…if you are."
Modo stood silently for a moment as his brain processed the last part of what she had just said, A smile splitting his face as the meaning behind her words finally sank in. His tail moving almost as if it had a mind of his own to pull her against him his hands joining it as he was struck by an almost euphoric sense of relief.
"I'm definitely open to more." He replied thickly his voice deepening as he stared down at her with a feeling of elation as she gazed back at him. Modo could probably have happily stood exactly like that, the rest of the morning,
but after a bit Chair shifted restlessly in his grip, scrunching her nose up. "Alright…now what?" she asked letting out a small puff of air that ruffled the small handful of hairs that had made their way loose from the bun she'd previously had them secured in.
Taken off guard Modo fumbled for a response "well…?" he trailed off as he failed to come up with one.
"Well…What?" Chair asked the hint of amusement that filled her gaze at odds with her dry tone.
(Well Mama did also say honesties often the best policy) he thought ruefully as he stared down at her
"Honestly I haven't thought that far ahead." He finally answered truthfully, hunching his shoulders slightly in a shrug a chagrinned smile just turning up the edges of his mouth up.
Chairs eyes twinkled with humor as she started to open her mouth to respond, just as the faint scent of shampoo mixed with wet fur reached his nose. Followed almost immediately by Vinnie's voice clearly cutting through the room.
"You're supposed to kiss her dumbass!"
Chair startled in his grip and whipped her head around to stare in the white furred male's direction, Modo could almost feel the annoyed scowl spreading across his face as he fought against the urge to tighten his hold on her, to keep her in place so she wouldn't dart off on him prematurely again at his youngest bro's most recent interruption.
Modo leveled a seething look in Vinnie's direction to vexed at having another personal moment with Chair (awkward as it might have been at that very instance) disrupted by the white furred male to do more than give his state of dress..or undress in this case more than a cursory acknowledgment.
But even as irritated, as he currently was he had always believed in giving those who managed to find themselves on his bad side, the glimmer of a chance to get away, and seeing as Vin was one of his best and oldest friends, he figured aatthe very least he owed the other mouse the benefit of a head start.
"Vinnie I swear I don't even care why the hell your naked-but you have three seconds to leave before I shoot you starting..now." He said watching as the realization that he might have over stepped play across his white furred Bro's face as Modo's own disgruntled expression and tone of voice clued him into the fact that the grey furred male was at least halfway serious about his threat, even before he raised and aimed his arms laser canon for added emphasis.
"Whoa there-" Vin started his eyes widening in surprise as he lifted his arms up slightly and slowly took a step behind him. "Well I can see your busy-so I'll just be—Ack!" wanting to get back to the conversation with Chair or at least the equivalent of one he'd been having with her and, Knowing Vinnie's penchant for drawing things out, and not really in the mood to wait for him to make it through his usual long windedness. Modo fired a quick but carefully aimed shot off to the side to put a halt to his rambling and hurry him along in his exit.
Giving a startled cry the white furred mouse quickly leapt back through the doorway. The towel clad male's barely audible mutter of "Cheez Bro -I can take a hint." Just carrying back to Modo's ears as he lowered his arm back down.
"You realize Charley's going to be pissed you just put another hole in her wall..Right?" Chair asked amusement threading her voice as she meet his gaze once more.
Modo gave a small snort the corners of his mouth twisting down in annoyance as he replied, his response laced with bleak humor. "Trust me she'd have been madder if I actually gave into temptation and put one in Vin instead."
Although now that the topic of kissing had been put out there…he had to admit the idea held merit... and now that he was thinking about it he found the desire to do just that holding the foremost position in his mind. "I think he had a point though. Modo said absently voicing the thought.
Hearing Chair suck in a sharp breath Modo realized he'd spoken out loud and quickly looked down to take in her reaction.
"I'm not sure about full blown kissing just yet..I wasn't even sure you guys did..Kiss that is—but I guess since he mentioned it..you do?..Uh –well-that is..what I mean is-do you? Chair half Stammered in an agitated rush her, eyes darting down briefly towards his mouth then back up to meet his gaze, Modo slowly blinked as he tried to follow the broken stream of dialogue. "Do we what?" he finally asked with a mix of befuddled exasperation.
Chair fidgeted nervously in his grasp, Her expressive face suddenly taking on a decidedly Rosy hue as she answered her voice so low he could barely hear it. "Do you kiss?"
Modo was taken by surprise for all of an instant, but quickly realized that deliberate or not Chair had just given him the opening he had been hoping for and without concise thought he found himself lowering his head down. Watching her eyes go wide as he neared but a split second before his mouth brushed hers, the sound of Throttles voice rang through the air effectively ruining the moment. "Vincent…why the hell are you naked?"
A dull throb started up behind Modo's eye as Vinnie's petulant response carried to their ears from right outside the doors he'd only recently exited through clueing him in on the fact that the white furred male had more than likely still been listening in on him and Chair, releasing a frustrated grumble Modo tuned out the rest of the two mice's conversation as he straightened back up. Figuring the intimate moment between them was a lost cause at this point, he hesitantly allowed his hands and tail slide away from around Chairs waist.
(Oh Mama can't a mouse catch a break) he thought irritably reaching up to rub absently at the back of his neck while muttering a few choice comments about his Bro's poor timing. His annoyed tirade was brought to an abrupt halt though, as the substantially shorter female suddenly grabbed him by the face and yanked him towards her.
Off balance Modo had just enough time to register the look of determination that flitted across her face right before she locked her mouth against his, and his ability form fully coherent thoughts temporally flew out the window.
Flinching slightly as his teeth clicked against hers at the first initial contact, Modo angled his head a bit more to the side; afraid he might accidently catch one of her lips with the jagged edge his chipped tooth if he wasn't carful. Modo released a muffled groan in the back of his throat as the new angle allowed them to deepen the kiss, Despite that he wasn't deliberately trying to read her the faint echo of what Chair was feeling filtered through to him further adding to sensations and emotions he was already experiencing.
The feeling of her desire tinged with something deeper mixed with his own , and he was struck by the sudden need to increase the contact between them, and without concise thought he found himself lifting her up into his arms, to hold her against him.
Just as caught up in the moment as the grey furred male was, Chair offered no protest, merely making a faint whimpering sound, as she wrapped her arms and legs around him, all the while continuing to maintain the contact between their mouths.
The rampant kiss lasted a few more minutes, until they both finally pulled back gasping brokenly for air. Her chest still heaving with the effort to pull in oxygen Chair grinned up at him a second before she closed her eyes and tucked her head under his chin. "Well..I guess..t-that answers…that question" she gasped out between breaths, leaning back just enough to meet his gaze again.
"Modo?" Chair queried after a few seconds had passed, a trace of humor creeping into her tone as she regarded him in bemusement.
Modo simply stared back at her and made a inarticulate noise in response, subconsciously tugging her closer to him, his brain still a bit to overwhelmed from the lingering sensation of their combined emotions for him to do much more than stand there.
"You can put me down now" She stated impishly her lips turning up in an amused smile.
Chairs playful tone coupled with the repetition of her words from the start of their conversation managed to pull him the rest of the way his befuddled state causing the grey furred male to grin as he answered in kind "And if I don't want to" he asked
Chair started to reply right as the high pitched ring of the garages phone split the air. Modo moaned in frustrated annoyance at this finale disruption, while wondering what in name of mars he had done to earn this kind of twisted karma.
Gently pressing his forehead to Chairs for an instant, he fought the urge that came over him to actually shoot the old rotary phone, knowing that an action like that would land him in hot water with Charley for sure.
Modo finally lowered Chair to the floor as the piercing sound of the phones ringing started over once more, The slight tickling feeling of Chair softly running her hand along his arm, helping to pull him from his inner musings about murdering the telephone, as he glanced down to meet her rueful expression before she turned quickly to head in the direction of the still ringing phone.
Modo continued to watch her as she glanced back at him for a split second mouthing the word sorry over her shoulder while simultaneously picking up the receiver.
Despit his elation at how things had worked out between him and Chair a spike of unease still pierced him as his mind briefly touched back on the lingering fragments of his nightmare from the previous evening. Sending an icy chill through his heart, as the haunting image of her unnaturally still form, and blood soaked curls floated to the top of his thoughts.
Modo may have only had one functioning eye but that didn't mean he was blind to the fact that, just being around him and his Bro's placed Chair in potential danger. But in a way that was true for any of their friends and allies Charley, Manual, Chef Andy, Four-by even the orphans were at risk by default on that scale.
Really being affiliated with him and his Bro's to any degree held a certain amount of danger for just about everyone they meet…
But… Modo also knew that if he let the fear of being close to anyone take over and always pushed them away and distanced himself … then there stood a good chance that…eventually he would become so emotionally closed off, that he really would be no better than the cold- hearted machine Karbunkle had tried to turn him into. He thought grimly as his gaze shifted from Chair's animated form down to his metallic arm as he lifted it slightly and slowly formed the unfeeling digits into a fist.
"Not trying to ruin the moment but if you two love birds plan on joining us for breakfast you may wanna shake a leg before all the grubs gone." Throttle suddenly yelled out from the other room.
A small frission of relief passed through the grey furred male as his Bro's voice cut into the moroseness of his current thoughts and pulled him back to the present,
Even as he fought the urge to roll his eye at the irony of having the tan mouse act almost apologetic for possibly butting in on his and Chairs private moment well after it had already been disrupted several times over, no thanks to him and Vin both.
Modo briefly toyed with idea of giving his Bro's a little deliberate payback in the future when they we're with their own respective ladies, but in the end decided against it, figuring that it would probably just wrack him up another hefty karma fine of some sort.
" Be there N' a sec Bro" He called back, glancing back in Chairs direction in time to see her setting the old phones receiver back in its cradle before she turned to face him an almost shy smile on her face as she looked back at him, Before she spoke apparently having heard Throttle as well.
"You know surprisingly enough, this morning's mad ride of death and my stomachs less than pleasant reaction aside. I actually could go for something a little more filling myself." Chair said, pausing a moment before nodding in the direction of the small plate of apple slice's "Not that I didn't appreciate the thoughtfulness, behind sending out my favorite food and all."
"Thank you" She added with a small blush reaching up to brush absently again, at the stray wisps of hair that had escaped the confines of artfully styled bun. Modo blinked as he realized for the first time that something actually looked different about her hair this morning…although he couldn't quite place what it was. It looked nice though, but then she always looked beautiful to him, even when she was what, she had once referred to as a haphazard mess.
The image of Chair in the kitchen the previous day after their play fight, her hair wildly disheveled, chest rising rapidly as she heaved in breaths and her eyes snapping with temper, while she glared up at him, flashed through his mind. Make that more than beautiful he thought wryly as he shifted suddenly a bit uncomfortable for reasons he figured he'd be better off not dwelling on to closely at the moment.
A faint flush creeping up the sides of his neck and across his cheeks at the stray direction his thoughts had suddenly taken Modo flinched and cleared his throat a second before replying.
"You're welcome. But Throttles right and we'd best get in there… or all that'll be left for us is the clean up." He added gesturing in the direction of the doors with a rueful smile.
"Ok then…You go on, ahead and I'll be along in a sec. I just need to write something down real quick for Charley so I don't forget it." Chair said turning to scrounge around on the desk for a pen and paper. "Go on-I'll be right behind you." She added motioning him on when he hesitated mid way towards the doors.
At her insistent urging Modo reluctantly left room ahead of her, with the thought that he could at least make her a plate before the pickings got to slim.
However all food related thoughts came an immediate stop, the instant he cleared the Garage's kitchen entrance and caught sight of his youngest Bro. And it suddenly occurred to the grey furred male, as he felt more than heard Chair come up behind him, that perhaps the forces that governed the universal laws for Karma weren't quite as upset with him as he'd initially thought.