a/n: Lucky plays guitar and looks after his sister. He deserves more, but we need to get places.
All the good things belong to Monolith Soft, but Lucky and Rosalee live in my brain.
The break couldn't have been better timed. He spotted her entering the diner just as he was announcing a fifteen-minute break. He waded through the dance floor, pushing past people moving to the canned music, and reached the bar before she'd placed her order.
"She isn't here," he said without greeting.
She paid him no attention and continued to scan the crowd. "Who isn't?"
Lucky examined his sister ruefully. Her eyeliner was sharp enough to kill a man, and she was wearing skell gear in a way that totally flouted uniform regulations. Her gold hoops glittered as she swiveled her head to check every corner of the room.
"The chick you're looking for."
"I don't know what you're talking about," she snapped. She stopped her search to glance at Lucky. "Oh great," she snorted. "Two flowers. That means two admirers. Don't tell me there's gonna be a fight over you."
Lucky grinned and continued to bounce the roses against each other playfully. "I've got the proverbial two hands, sis. Don't worry, these came with the job." He laid a rose on the surface of the bar and slid it toward her. "How about you go put this one to good use?"
"For what? Because I don't know…"
Lucky interrupted before she could continue her denials. "Irina. Give it to Irina." He shook his head with exasperation. "If you keep whining and sulking about her, I'm going to toss you in the gel moat. Go save us all and give her the rose."
"No way. That woman doesn't see me. I've done everything, invites, dancing, the works, and it's like she can't see me. Worse: she doesn't want to see me. I'm giving up. I'm gonna hit on every woman in this bar and forget I ever heard the name Akulov."
"Or… you could give it one last try. Then you can be done."
"Why should I bother? All I'll get is a 'that's nice' and a vague smile."
"Because today is Valentines, mija. The day's got power, and if you give her a rose and it doesn't work today, well, then you know for sure. Go. Do it for your big bro."
She shook her head, but he could see her biting her lower lip. Lucky gave her a supportive push, in the way brothers have done since time immemorial. "You should do it. Or maybe you're just … chicken."
"You're lucky you're my little brother or I'd flatten you for saying that."
Lucky grinned down at her. He pushed the rose a millimeter closer. Then he said, slowly and with decent authenticity, "Bwaaaaaaawk bwack bwak bwak." Somewhere in the past, a chicken wondered where its voice had gone.
"Gimme that." She snatched up the flower and marched towards the door. Lucky hadn't felt this proud of her since forever.
a/n: You and me both, Lucky.
Next up: Rosalee.